The laboratory use of butylnitrite for the production of methemoglobin.

The use of volatile butylnitrite in place of sodium nitrite for the in vitro production of methemoglobin was explored in studies of G6PD-deficient red cells and for measurements of the red cell methemoglobin reductase activity. It was found that butylnitrite vapor caused a more rapid oxidation of intracellular hemoglobin than sodium nitrite and required fewer washes for removal. Hence a more rapid preparation of the cells was possible. Both cytochemical detection of G6PD-deficient cells in a female heterozygote for G6PD deficiency and the screening test for a methemoglobin reductase deficiency could be performed with butylnitrite as well as with sodium nitrite. This small modification of these standard procedures promises to save time and facilitate processing of many samples during genetic screening of relevant populations.