A simple method of estimating whole blood viscosity at standardized hematocrit

Abstract

Red cell concentration is the main determinant of bulk blood viscosity. the evaluation of other determinants of blood rheology may require elimination of differences due to hematocrit alone. A simple and efficient procedure is described for calculating blood viscosity at a standard hematocrit, based on plasma viscosity, native sample hematocrit and whole blood viscosity at native hematocrit. The method considers individual variations of the viscosity – hematocrit relationship, as well as its dependence on shear rate.