Moderator’s Introductory Remarks

Abstract

The two expert meetings on standardization of red cell filtrometry have uncovered significant ambiguities in our methodological and conceptional approaches to understand the normal and abnormal rheological characteristics of human blood. Severe methodological artefacts were identified. The present round table addresses these problems showing that presently popular whole blood filtration techniques are not only hampered by artefacts introduced by non-red cells (leukocytes of all subclasses and thrombocytes) but are strongly influenced by the mode of anticoagulation. Furthermore, in tests where these two variables are controlled, there is a very significant influence of small subpopulations of rigidified red cells on the filtration characteristics on the entire red cell population. Conversely, there is increasing evidence suggesting that a very successful procedure suggested to remove leukocytes also removes the rigid subpopulations. Thence, the suspicion remains that cotton wool filtration introduces a new,albeit subtle artefact.