[The expression of red blood cell deformability in micropore filtration tests]

For the purpose of evaluating and comparing RBC deformability quantitatively with micropore filtration method, the precise meanings and applicability of physical parameters and defined indices expressing RBC deformability are discussed and analyzed in detail. The mean transit time (or the relative transit resistance) and the proportion of pore-clogging cells are found to be appropriate for representing the average deformability and the clogging characteristic of RBCs respectively. To eliminate the effects of clogging on filtration, previous studies were conducted filtration with as less clogging as possible. Investigations on experimental results from various filtration methods, however, reveal that the clogging property of RBCs contains important information on the RBC deformability. It reflects a different aspect of the RBC deformability besides the average deformability and is more sensitive to the abnormal deformability induced by physical, chemical, especially pathological factors.