COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF RED BLOOD CELL AGGREGATION KINETICS TO OBTAIN REPRESENTATIVE PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY DONORS

In this study, experimental curves of erythrocyte aggregation were fitted to obtain representative parameters of aggregation kinetics. Blood from healthy donors was collected and anti-coagulated with EDTA, and the samples were prepared and analyzed at a 40% hematocrit. Data were obtained by an optical chip aggregometer developed in our laboratory and based on light transmission. Curves of transmitted light through a blood sample versus time were recorded and subsequently subjected to custom made software in order to obtain characteristic parameters of the aggregation phenomenon. Calculations were conducted in a python environment, where the curve fitting gives immediately two parameters, τ 1 and τ 2 , related to the velocity in the formation of rouleaux, and their stability. Other indexes, such as Amp t , t 1/2 and the Aggregation Index (AI), are defined in order to describe the behavior of the aggregate formation. The results allow us to propose an equation that models more effectively the erythrocyte aggregation kinetics in which two stages were well distinguished. This study is of importance in Clinical Medicine since it helps to develop easy tools and techniques for blood characterization, especially concerning vascular pathologies such as hypertension and diabetes where the RBC aggregation can show alterations.