Studies on the variation in the viscosity of bronchial mucus and a technique for reducing such variation

Abstract

Rotational viscometry has been used to obtain rheograms and shear stress decay curves for bronchial mucus at 37°C and 100 per cent r.h. Statistical analysis of parameters derived from the latter curves indicated the marked variation between samples. A technique which reduces this variation whilst retaining the original rheological properties of bronchial mucus has been developed. The significance of the results with respect to biological assays is discussed.