Measurement of erythrocyte filterability using washed-erythrocyte and whole-blood methods

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Kenny, M.W. | Meakin, M. | Stuart, J.^{; *}

Affiliations: Department of Haematology, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TJ, UK

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to Professor J. Stuart

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J. Dormandy

Abstract: A positive-pressure, washed-erythrocyte method for the measurement of red cell filterability has been compared with a negative-pressure, whole-blood technique. Using 5 µm pore-size polycarbonate filters, both methods detected a sub-population of 4–5 × 107/l glutaraldehyde-hardened erythrocytes and both showed a decrease in erythrocyte filterability in proportion to increasing concentrations of added fibrinogen. The washed-erythrocyte method gave better reproducibility with less variation between filter batches and is recommended for the study of patients in whom plasma hyperproteinaemia may adversely affect erythrocyte filtration.

Keywords: Erythrocyte filterability, Blood viscosity

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1981-1204

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 135-146, 1981