Healthy red blood cells are shaped a lot like lifesavers, just with more of a dimple than a hole in the middle. But red blood cells that are sick or damaged often change shape, becoming bloated when infected by the parasite that causes malaria, for example. Quickly detecting that irregular shape might one day speed up identification of blood diseases, certain kinds of cancer or even tell blood banks when red blood cells sitting in storage are past their prime—all without breaking the skin or spilling a single drop of blood.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Cell Whisperer: Lasers Unlock Secrets of the Blood: Scientific American
