The in vitro aggregation of blood platelets is usually monitored with a visible light transmittance photometer (aggregometer). These cells in plasma are large (α = 2πa/λ ≅ 16) soft (m = 1.04) particles. The factors which significantly influence transmittance include the inherent scattering properties, multiple scattering, and photometer design. Now scattering theory and numerical methods for radiative transfer are used to survey how aggregation should influence transmittance as measured with various photometers. The results should help expand the analytical power of the transmittance photometer as a tool for monitoring aggregation. Evidence is also presented that scattering by aggregates of aerosol particles, which are of a higher relative refractive index, should also be adequately predicted by these approximate methods.

© 1983 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription