Plasma Protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentation and Serum Lability in Tuberculous Individuals

Abstract

Sedimentation of the corpuscles of heparinized blood was determined by noting the extent of fall in glass tubes with an inside diameter of 4 mm. and height of 100 mm. during an interval of 1 hour. The tubes were centrifuged to insure complete sedimentation and the sedimentation-index computed as the ratio between the sedimentation observed in 1 hour and the possible maximum extent of sedimentation.Precipitability of serum protein was determined by adding various amounts of aluminum sulphate, as contained in a unit volume of 1 cc. to 0.2 cc. of unheated blood serum in small tubes. Serum and reagent were mixed and set aside at room temperature for 1 1/2 hours. A heavy flocculent precipitate that settled out leaving a clear supernatant fluid was recorded as a positive reaction.Average values for these blood properties as observed in a group of 14 tuberculous and a group of 20 normal individuals are listed in the accompanying table with average values for total protein, fibrin, globulin and albumin as contain...