Compared with plasma viscosity it is elevated earlier in infection (6 - 10 hours) and it has a shorter half life (48 hours).
has a lower instance of false normal values.At GHNSHFT the plasma viscosity is used more routinely, and clinicians are advised to use this test in preference to the ESR as the plasma viscosity: Plasma viscosity and ESR results give very similar information. Plasma Viscosity tests are performed at GRH. Their main use is as an objective guide to the underlying activity of certain chronic inflammatory diseases such as temporal arteritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The value of these tests is limited by lack of specificity. infection, neoplasm or inflammatory disease). the increase in assorted plasma proteins and fibrinogen in blood plasma stimulated by a variety of causes (e.g. The Plasma Viscosity, alongside the ESR and C-Reactive Protein tests, gives a measure of the acute phase response i.e.
