EFFECT OF SUSPENDING MEDIUM VISCOSITY ON ORIENTATION AND DEFORMATION OF RBCS IN A SHEAR-FLOW FIELD

Based on the study for the effects of the viscosity of suspending medi um upon RBC deformability with Ektacytometry, we further researched th e influence of the viscosity of suspending medium upon the orientation and the deformation of RBCs in the orbit ''C=O'' with a new Ektacytom etry developed by ourselves. The results of the study show that the nu mber of RBCs in the orbit ''C=O'' was obviously reduced due to the uns tability of the now field of low viscosity at high shear rate region. So the precision for detecting the orientation index (DI)(or) and the deformation index (DI)(d) was seriously affected. On the other hand, ( DI)(or) obviously decreased due to the resistant effect of viscous for ce of suspending medium on RBCs in a shear flow field. Meantime, the d eformation of RBCs in the orbit ''C=O'' rises and falls slightly in a shear flow field of low viscosity and the deformation in the orbit ''C =infinity'' (tank-treading motion) increases with the viscosity of sus pending medium in a shear flow field of high viscosity. In this paper, through studying of the viscosity of suspending medium on the orienta tion and the deformation of RBCs, we experimentlly got an optimum visc osity of suspending medium for the new Ektacytometry to measure both ( DI)(or) and (DI)(d) for the best precision at the same time.