In a blood sample with lipemia, which spectroscopy absorbance reading is falsely increased?

In the context of a blood sample that is lipemic, the absorbance reading for hemoglobin is falsely increased due to the interference caused by the presence of lipids in the blood. Lipemia refers to the presence of an increased concentration of lipids in the serum and can lead to the formation of chylomicrons and other lipid particles, which can scatter light and absorb wavelengths in the visible spectrum.

Hemoglobin's absorbance is typically measured using spectrophotometric techniques, and high levels of lipids can contribute to a greater absorbance reading at the wavelengths used for hemoglobin assessment. This interference can result in overestimating the concentration of hemoglobin, which could lead to misinterpretation of the patient’s condition and possibly inappropriate clinical decisions based on inaccurate laboratory results.

In contrast, red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells do not exhibit the same degree of increased absorbance due to light scattering in the presence of lipemia as compared to hemoglobin. While elevated lipids may impact the overall constituent measurements and the clarity of the sample, they do not directly interfere in the same manner with the measurements associated with these cellular components. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the specific vulnerability of hemoglobin absorbance readings to false increases in