FLOW OF HARDENED RED BLOOD-CELL SUSPENSIONS THROUGH NARROW TUBES

The anomalous effects in the flow of hardened red blood cell suspensions through narrow tubes have been experimentally measured. Simultaneous measurement of apparent viscosity and hematocrit reduction have been made over a range of hematocrit, tube size, and flow rate. The measurements have been compared with those for normal red blood cell suspensions and rigid sphere suspensions. The effect of erythrocyte deformability on the anomalous behavior of blood in narrow tubes is discussed. © 1979 Academic Press, Inc. All rights reserved.