Capillary　electrophoresis　(CE)　of　erythrocytes　from　different　sources　under　various　conditions　is　reported　in　this　paper.　It　was　found　that　erythrocyte　samples　from　sheep,　duck,　and　human　showed　characteristic　and　reproducible　elution　peaks,　and　that　the　retention　times　of　A-,　B-,　AB-,　and　O-type　erythrocytes　from　human　blood　were　distinctively　different;　even　subtle　differences,　among　individuals　with　the　same　blood　type　could　be　detected　by　CE.　A　strictly　linear　correlation　was　obtained　between　the　peak　area　and　the　amount　of　human　erythrocyte　over　a　range　of　4.8　x　10(2)-1.9　x　10(4)　cells　(r　=　0.999),　indicating　that　CE　could　be　used　for　rapid　and　accurate　quantification　of　erythrocytes.　Using　this　CE　protocol,　the　decrease　of　the　surface　electrical　charge　of　erythrocyte　during　storage　was　confirmed.　Therefore,　this　work　demonstrated　that　CE　could　be　a　useful　alternative　for　characterizing　and　quantifying　erythrocytes　or　other　cells.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　Science　(USA).　All　rights　reserved.