By using three isotopes of diisopropyl-phosphofluoridate ([(3)H]-, [(14)C]-, and [(32)P]DFP) simultaneously, the life span of red cells from 20 patients with sickle cell anemia (Hb SS) has been studied after varying degrees of carbamylation in vitro with cyanate (NCO) and carbamyl phosphate (CP). The results are expressed in terms of the red cell mean life span (MLS). The MLS of red cells in the patients studied averaged 15.2+/-6.3 (SD) days. After carbamylation the increase in red cell life span was linearly proportional to the concentration of cyanate used, so that at 0.01. 0.02, and 0.3 M NCO (approximately 1, 1.6, and 2 mol NCO/mol Hb) the average increase in MLS was 8.14+/-4.9 days, 14.7+/-4.1 days, and 18.4+/-8.8 days, respectively. Analysis of survival curves and the results of an experiment using a population of Hb SS cells separated by centrifugation indicated that carbamylation had a disproportionate effect on the survival of the youngest cells in the population. Improvement in MLS correlated with the reticulocyte count of the cells carbamylated. This finding is explained on the hypothesis that the life span of irreversibly sickled and other damaged cells is not improved by carbamylation but that carbamylation greatly improves the life span of the young, and as yet undamaged, cells. For this reason extracorporeal carbamylation is not favored as a form of therapy. At the level of carbamylation attainable by oral therapy, however, it would appear likely that only a modest increase in red cell life span will be achieved.