DIFFERENTIAL ERUTHROCYTE COUNTS

摘要

Erythrocytes exist in vivo in a continuous cell subset gradient of density, with the youngest cells being the lightest. A blood sample is centrifuged in a transparent tube containing plastic beads which are selected to include groups of beads wherein each group has a different sharply defined specific gravity, and which are distributed within the range of red cell densities. The beads form spaced narrow bands in the erythrocyte layer, which bands form boundries between the different cell subset layers. Measurements of the lengths of the different cell subset layers are then made to quantify the red cell subsets in the patient's blood.