Application of the digital holographic microscope for investigation of human red blood cells

The digital holographic interference microscope and the holographic interference contrast method were used for 3-D imaging of native blood erythrocytes of healthy people and patients with different pathologies. Three basic morphology kinds of blood erythrocytes were detected. A sphericity coefficient was used as quantitative characteristics of blood erythrocytes morphology. 3-D images of native blood specimens of healthy people and patients are presented. It is shown that 3-D erythrocytes morphology characterizes the state of a human organism. Investigation of 3-D erythrocytes morphology must be a part of general medical blood investigation and the digital holographic interference microscope is an effective device for such purposes.