Fast screening for liposomes encapsulated hemoglobins (LEH) using ADVIA 120 flow cytomery-based hematological analyzer

The artificial enhancing of the uptake, transport or delivery of oxygen, including the intake of modified hemoglobin products (e.g HBOCs) is a prohibited method included in the WADA List of Prohibited substances, in the section M1. Manipulation of blood and blood components. Liposomes encapsulated hemoglobins (LEH) are for all intents and purposes a potential form of blood doping [1]., and, in addition to class M1, they also fall within class S0, being not yet approved for their use in therapeutics. Exogenous hemoglobins can be easily detected as they cause miscoloration of plasma or by measuring the difference between the total Hgb and the intracellular Hgb content in a sample [2]. On the contrary, should hemoglobins be encapsulated into liposomes, they become virtually “invisible” to the present screening methods.