[A small subpopulation of rigid erythrocytes changes the erythrocyte filtration test]

By means of the filterability test of Reid et al., the influence of a subpopulation of rigid erythrocytes (5% and 2.5%, respectively) was studied using Nucleopore polycarbonate membranes with pore size of 5 mu and diameter of 13 mm. The addition of 5% and 2.5% of rigid red cells delays the erythrocyte filtration times and alters the red cell deformability index. The meaning of the obtained data is discussed.