Welcome to the erythrocyte blog

This website contains information about erythrocytes (red blood cells) in general, their rheological behavior and the possible laboratory tests available on the market.

We have a lot of answers, but persistently strive to find more in close collaboration with research scientists and our other partners.

Dear visitors of the erythrocyte blog.

 

First of all, we would like to welcome all of you to this new website. It contains information about erythrocytes (red blood cells) in general, their rheological behavior and the possible laboratory tests available on the market. We strive to bring you news, insights and summaries of what we consider as valuable reading material. Feel free to comment or add in the blog section. This website is sponsored by Mechatronics, it is not intended to sell more products instead it strives  to bring together information and discussion on the topic of erythrocytes and laboratory testing.

Rheology

Rheology is the scientific field that deals with the flow and deformation behavior of materials in general. The hemorheology specifically studies the flow properties of blood and its formed elements;  cells (i.e. red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets) and intercellular liquid (i.e. plasma). These rheological properties of blood are both of scientific and clinical interest: details are still being studied, but blood rheology can be altered in many different diseases; mainly because of its key role in tissue perfusion.

The blood volume contains about 40 to 45% of cellular elements; also known as the hematocrit. From these cellular elements about 99% consists of erythrocytes (one mm3 of blood: 5 million RBC’s, 5000 WBC’s and 300.000 platelets). The RBC’s have a unique mechanical behavior, the ability to deform and aggregate. RBC deformability refers to the ability of RBC’s to deform under a certain level of applied shear stress, this is important for RBC’s to pass the microcirculation; with the narrow capillaries. RBC aggregation occurs if the shear stress is reduced and RBC’s adhere to each other, forming larger stacks (rouleaux), an important determinant of blood viscosity. Both, RBC deformability and aggregation, are therefore important  factors affecting blood flow.

Measurement

Several techniques for measurement of these specific properties of RBC’s have been developed over the past decades. The Lorrca® (Laser Assisted Rotational Cell Analyzer) has proven to be a versatile instrument in the field of hemorheology. It combines RBC deformability by ektacytometry, osmoscan and aggregometry; all temperature controlled. The technique accurately detects deformability as a function of shear stress (also under an osmotic gradient) , pre-hemolytic stability and aggregation of the RBC’s.

RR Mechatronics

RR Mechatronics, Masters of Measurement, established in The Netherlands in 1986, focuses on these sort of medical analytics instruments. We have a track record of thinking in terms of solutions, not problems. The unique collaboration between the scientific world and our R&D department enabled us to develop the Lorrca®. We do not have all the answers, but persistently strive to find them in these close collaboration with our research scientists and our other partners.

Besides the Lorrca®, RR Mechatronics is the world leader in automated true Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) instruments. This instrument, Starrsed,  is even more accurate and safe in comparison with the manual Westergren version and is considered the gold standard in measuring ESR.

Reading material

Baskurt, OK; Hardeman M; Rampling MW; Meiselman HJ (2007). Handbook of Hemorheology and Hemodynamics. Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Dobbe JGG. Engineering developments in hemorheology (dissertation). University of Amsterdam, Netherlands (2002); P9-18.

Download our Erythrocyte PDF here!

This white paper provides an overview on the history and measurement of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the different tests/instruments available on the market. It shows several publications on analysis of these tests in comparison with the gold standard of Westergren (and Starrsed).

Download

Erythrocyte.net is a blog from RR Mechatronics International B.V.

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