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Benson Clinical Viscometers – Stand E99
In the dynamic world of clinical diagnostics, continuous advances are critical to improving patient outcomes, enhancing efficiency, and supporting cost-effective medical decision making. While diagnostic tools have evolved, inflammatory and infection testing has remained stubbornly outdated. Standard methods such as ESR and CRP introduced decades ago, continue to be the cornerstone of clinical practice despite their significant limitations. In contrast, Plasma and Serum Viscosity testing represents a modern alternative, one that addresses the shortcomings of traditional techniques and is compatible with the increasing demands of today’s healthcare systems.
ESR and CRP are widely used as markers of inflammation, but both suffer from inherent weaknesses. ESR, for example, is heavily time-dependent, requiring up to 60 minutes to yield results. This delay is increasingly unacceptable in modern clinical environments where rapid decision-making is often critical. ESR is also influenced by several variables, including haematocrit levels, temperature, and red cell morphology, making it less specific and reliable. CRP, though faster and more sensitive than ESR, lacks clinical standardisation across laboratories. Reference ranges and cut-off values vary, creating inconsistent interpretations. Both ESR and CRP are susceptible to interference from medications such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids, which can obscure the true inflammatory state of the patient. These drawbacks highlight the need for a more reliable, rapid, and universally interpretable diagnostic tool.
Plasma and Serum Viscosity testing provides a fundamentally different approach. Rather than relying on indirect indicators or protein concentrations, viscosity testing directly measures the fluid dynamics of biological samples, offering advantages in terms of accuracy, reproducibility, and clinical utility.
First, viscosity measurements are minimally affected by pharmaceutical agents. Unlike CRP or ESR, plasma viscosity is not easily altered by commonly used anti-inflammatory medications, making it a more stable and objective measure of disease activity. This is particularly useful for monitoring chronic inflammatory conditions or in acute settings where drug effects may confound other tests. Secondly, testing is rapid and requires only micro-Liters of sample volume. With results available in seconds, plasma and serum viscosity testing facilitate quick clinical decision-making, an essential factor in emergency departments, ICU, and highthroughput laboratories. In contrast, ESR remains too slow for these environments, and CRP, while fast, still cannot match the real-time potential of viscosity measurement.
At a time when laboratories are under increasing pressure to deliver more efficient results, accuracy and throughput are key. Benson Clinical Viscometers offer the only clinical tool to meet this need. The semi-automated BV1 model supports smaller laboratories and research studies with high-accuracy testing. Meanwhile, the BV200 enables fully automated, highthroughput viscosity testing for large clinical labs. These systems not only improve efficiency and workflow but also minimise human error and standardise results across sites.
Several NHS haematology and pathology laboratories have already recognised the value of viscosity testing. For example, a laboratory in Scotland has phased out the ESR test in favour of Plasma Viscosity, and is educating general practitioners across the health board on its clinical applications. As more institutions make this transition, the shift from outdated inflammatory markers is likely to accelerate.
Viscosity testing is not only limited to inflammation. Leading research is exploring use in diagnosing specific types of dementia, improving Cardiovascular Disease risk models, and even rapid sepsis detection. Emerging research continues to explore the potential of viscosity testing in various biological fluids beyond plasma and serum. Blood viscosity is being investigated for its role in monitoring sickle cell anaemia and traumatic brain injury, while synovial fluid viscosity shows promise in the early detection of periprosthetic joint infections. These expanding applications highlights viscosity’s relevance in clinical practice and biomedical research. The untapped potential of viscosity as a diagnostic parameter makes it a platform for innovation.
As healthcare systems demand faster, more reliable, and cost-effective diagnostics, plasma and serum viscosity testing stands out as transformative. Compared to traditional tests, viscosity offers faster turnaround, greater accuracy, resistance to pharmaceutical interference. With growing adoption and research backing its utility, viscosity testing is poised to become a critical factor of future diagnostic protocols.
In a field when standing still means falling behind, adopting viscosity testing isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a necessity. When the rest of medicine is moving forward, can you afford not to?
Learn more about Benson Clinical Viscometers here.
