Eosin-5'-maleimide (EMA) is a fluorescent dye that is used
to detect red cell membrane defects by flow cytometry. It
is primarily utilized to diagnose hereditary spherocytosis
(HS), which may be transfusion-dependent. In addition, reports
have indicated the applicability of EMA to hemolytic
disorders such as cryohydrocytosis (a type of hereditary stomatocytosis),
Southeast Asian ovalocytosis, and congenital
dyserythropoietic anemia type II [1]. Studies have also illustrated
the use of EMA in the differential diagnosis of HS
and hereditary pyropoikilocytosis [2]. The diagnosis of patient
susceptibility to hemolytic disorders depends on qualitative
parameters such as clinical presentation, family history, peripheral
smear profile, and red blood cell (RBC) indices [3].
The RBC membrane is a lipid bilayer consisting of specific
protein components such as and -spectrin, ankyrin, band