Shear Rate Dependence of the Viscosity of Whole Blood and Plasma

Abstract

The analysis of the shear stress/shear rate relationship, and thus the viscosity/shear rate relation, of blood and plasma shows that (i) freshly drawn whole blood has a large shear rate dependence on viscosity (viscosity falls as shear rate increases), and (ii) the shear rate dependence of viscosity of whole blood, or plasma, that has not been treated to prevent clotting is substantially greater than that of whole blood or plasma treated with anticoagulants. The influence of this phenomenon upon the fluid mechanics of the microcirculation is commented upon.