A study on the measurement of the reference range of the whole blood viscosity in Thoroughbred horses

This study aimed to measure the whole blood viscosity (WBV) in racehorses using a new viscometer and establish reference values, as well as to investigate the correlation between the WBV and the haematological parameters and serum chemistry. WBV measurements were conducted on 51 Thoroughbred horses using a novel U-shaped scanning capillary-tube viscometer. The reference values for the WBV were determined at various shear rates ranging from 1 s^-1 to 1 000 s^-1. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the correlation between the WBV and the haematological and serum chemistry parameters. The findings provide valuable reference data for the WBV in Thoroughbred horses and enhance understanding of the relationship between the WBV and routine blood tests in equine health assessment.