Atomic force microscopy (AFM) offers complementary imaging modes that can provide morphological and structural details of red blood cells (RBCs), and characterize interactions between specific biomolecules and RBC surface antigen. This review describes the applications of AFM in determining RBC health by the observation of cell morphology, elasticity and surface roughness. Measurement of interaction forces between plasma proteins and antibodies against RBC surface antigen using the AFM also brought new information to the immunohaematology field. With constant improvisation of the AFM in resolution and imaging time, the reaction of RBC to changes in the physico-chemistry of its environment and the presence of RBC surface antigen specific-biomolecules is achievable.

原子力显微镜（AFM）提供了互补的成像模式，可以提供红细胞（RBC）的形态和结构细节，并表征特定生物分子和RBC表面抗原之间的相互作用。这篇综述通过观察细胞形态，弹性和表面粗糙度描述了AFM在确定RBC健康中的应用。使用AFM测量血浆蛋白与抗RBC表面抗原的抗体之间的相互作用力也为免疫血液学领域带来了新的信息。随着AFM在分辨率和成像时间上的不断改进，可以实现RBC对其环境的物理化学变化以及RBC表面抗原特异性生物分子的存在的反应。