[Investigation of the Zeta reference values by Chinese-built Zetafuge and preliminary application]

We determined the Zeta sedimentation ratio (ZSR) for 326 normal subjects and 106 inpatients by Chinese-built Zetafuge. The mean ZSR for normal subjces was 52.5 +/- 5.05% and that for inpatients 68.52 +/- 5.54% (P < 0.001). ZSR can be determined by using directly the blood sample with the anticoagulant EDTA-K2; the determination is faster and requires less volume of blood sample; it is not affected by anemia and need not be corrected for age and sex. The results of ZSR are expressed in a new unit, %, not in mm/h. The reference value we established is: < or = 62%. We also discussed the problem of reproducibility, the speed of centrifuge, the height of blood, and compared this method with the westergren method. The agreement between the two methods is 86.6%.