Objective Measurement of the Dispersing Effect of Dextran 40 on Red Cells from Man, Dog, and Rabbit

A brief outline is given of a method for the objective measurement of erythrocyte aggregation and dispersion. Using this method it is shown that dextran 40 (Rheomacrodex) has a specific dispersing effect on aggregated human and canine red cells. A species difference in the reaction of red blood cells to dextrans is confirmed in that dextran 40 has no dispersing effect on rabbit red cells.