Standardization and automation of the measurement of whole blood viscosity

Abstract

Whole blood viscosity was measured by a Contraves LS30 viscosimeter. The Contraves was equipped with a Hewlett Packard computer to achieve a complete automated and calibration controlled blood viscosity measurement for a large range of shear rates. A sound examination of the blood viscosity measurement shows that, in order to perform reliable measurements, the dependence of blood viscosity on shear rate should be determined going from low shear rate (0.01 s^−l) to high shear rate (100 s^−l).