Spectrophotometric Method

Spectrophotometric quantitative determination of  Methemoglobin on whole blood.

Methemoglobin is a hemoglobin derivative with trivalent iron, which is formed by the oxidation of divalent iron. Methemoglobin loses its ability to deliver oxygen. Methemoglobin accumulation in erythrocytes can results from either congenital or acquired processes. Cases of acquired methemoglobin are frequent, due to intoxications caused by substances with direct oxidizing action, such as nitrites and nitrates or after some metabolic transformations in the organism, like some drugs (salicylic acid, pyramidon, sulphamide) or derivatives used in industry (aniline, toluol and benzol derivatives).