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If the roller pump speed of an autotransfusion device is lowered during the fill/prime cycle, what will occur?

  1. Lower HCT

  2. Higher HCT

  3. Increased blood flow

  4. Decreased suction pressure

The correct answer is: Higher HCT

When the roller pump speed of an autotransfusion device is lowered during the fill/prime cycle, it results in a higher hematocrit (HCT) level. This is because a slower pump speed allows more time for the blood to settle and for cellular components, such as red blood cells, to concentrate in the blood being drawn. Autotransfusion devices are designed to capture and reinfuse a patient's blood, often during or after surgery. Hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of blood that is made up of red blood cells. When the pump speed is reduced, the flow rate decreases, and the density of red blood cells increases relative to the plasma volume; thus, the overall HCT rises. In contrast, increasing the speed of the pump would lead to a more diluted blood product because the red blood cells would be mixed with more plasma in a shorter amount of time, leading to a lower HCT. Therefore, a lower pump speed during the fill or prime process directly correlates with an increase in the concentration of red blood cells, resulting in a higher hematocrit.