The effect of various anticoagulants on the specific gravity of blood and of plasma, and on the hematocrit.

PJIHE INTRODUCTION of rapid, simple methods for measuring the specific gravity of body fluids ’ has led to a growing appreciation of the usefulness of such measurements, particularly as applied to blood and plasma.’’#{176} Although it is not difficult to measure the specific gravity of blood prior to coagulation, the comparable treatment of plasma requires special facilities for rapid sedimentation of the corpuscles. In general, the measurements are carried out much more conveniently on samples which have been defibrinated or in which coagulation has been prevented by the use of various chemicals. The influence of certain anticoagulant procedures on the specific gravity of blood and plasma has been reported ,‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘