Introduction: There is evidence to suggest that blood viscosity (BV) is involved in several pathological processes. In this review, we evaluated the different methods of BV acquisition, analyzing the sample storage time, the storage temperature, the acquisition time, the acquisition temperature, sample volume, and shear rates, in order to standardize this technique.
Methods: We selected 50 articles with methods of obtaining BV, evaluating pathologies through BV, comparing rheological equipment, monitoring, and regulating BV.
Results and conclusion: Measurements should be obtained as soon as possible, to reduce hemorheological changes. It is necessary to refrigerate them at 4°C when the storage time is long. The acquisition time is related to the equipment used. BV measurements at 37°C will represent the real BV in vivo more faithfully. In order to understand the BV phenomena, the shear rates must be between 0.1 and 1000 s-1. There is a wide variety of equipment available for measuring the BV.
Keywords: blood; hemorheology; measurement protocol; reproducibility; viscosity.
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