| 摘要 |
A sample is prepared by mixing sample blood with a coagulation-inhibiting agent in a test tube (9) and placing this tube at least substantially vertically so that red blood corpuscles sediment downwards (33) to leave a deviating liquid column (35) above them, the height of the latter after a predetermined sedimentation time constituting a sought-for blood sedimentation rate. This height is indicated by having a buoyant body (31) in the test tube, the density and dimensions of the body being selected such that it normally floates freely at the interface (37) between the sedimented sample column (33) and the deviating liquid column (35) above it. The buoyant body is magnetically actuable. On the termination of the previously determined sedimentation time, the buoyant body (31) is caused to remain, due to external magnetic actuation (from electromagnet 11) in the position it had at the termination of said time for indicating the length or height of the deviating liquid column, and thereby the blood sedimentation rate for said time. According to one aspect of the invention, there is utilized a previously prepared test tube (9) which contains the required coagulation-inhibiting agent such as citrate, and a buoyant body (31) implemented as mentioned above, the test tube being sealed, with the aid of a diaphragm cork (39), possibly after evacuation. For the determination of blood sedimentation rate it is thus only necessary to insert sample blood into the test tube via the input diaphragm, e.g. by utilizing a catheter. |
