摘要 |
A method for determining the sedimentation rate of erythrocytes (ESR) includes the steps of placing an anticoagulated sample of whole blood in a transparent capillary tube and subjecting the blood sample and the tube to centrifugation. The position of the erythrocyte/plasma interface in the blood sample is determined at known time intervals during centrifugation of the blood sample. A point during centrifugation wherein the position of the erythrocyte/plasma interface becomes non-linear relative to elapsed centrifugation time is determined; and the slope of successive non-linear interface positions which are observed at subsequent elapsed centrifugation times occurring between the aforesaid point, to the time of substantial completion of centrifugation of the sample, is calculated. A value which reflects the sedimentation rate of the sample, if the sedimentation rate measurement were performed under ambient gravity conditions, can be derived from the calculated slope and the Y intercept of the calculated slope, thereby arriving at a conventional gravity sedimentation rate value from the erythrocyte/plasma interface positions determined during centrifugation of the blood sample.
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