An assessment of red cell deformability using a simple filtration method.

We assessed the simple method of measuring red cell deformability described by Reid et al. The technique was found to be reproducible. The validity of the method as a measure of red cell deformation was confirmed by (a) marked reduction of the deformability index after fixation of red cells with glutaraldehyde, and (b) an inverse correlation of deformability index with high-shear blood viscosity (r = 0.4; P