Leucocyte removal prior to study of erythrocyte deformability

Positive-pressure and initial-flow-rate (Hémorhéomètre) methods for the study of erythrocyte filtration through 5 micron diameter pores are highly sensitive to the presence of contaminating leucocytes in the erythrocyte test suspension. A pre-filtration step, in which heparinised or EDTA-anticoagulated whole-blood was passed through a column of Imugard IG500 cotton wool, was therefore developed. This procedure removed contaminating platelets and leucocytes, but not erythrocyte sub-populations, and is likely to improve the sensitivity and specificity of erythrocyte filtration techniques.