Diagnostic Laboratory Section

METHODS

Wintrobe’s method

• The Wintrobe’s or haematocrit tube is filled with oxalated blood up to ‘0’ mark using a Wintrobe pipette. The tube is set in the Wintrobe stand in a vertical position at the constant temperature.

• The upper level of sedimenting erythrocytes is read in millimeters on the left scale of the tube after 30 or 60 min.

Westergren’s method

• The Westergren’s tube is 300 mm long with a diameter of 2 mm and a capacity of 1ml, graduated from 0 to 200 at 2 mm interval.
• The tube is dipped in the blood which is aspirated up to ‘0’ mark and placed in vertical position for 30 or 60 min. The sedimentation of erythrocytes is read in millimeters after the time interval.