High speed versus pulsed images for micro-particle image velocimetry: a direct comparison of red blood cells versus fluorescing tracers as tracking particles

High speed photography in micro-particle image velocimetry (mu PIV) using red blood cells as tracer particles and the use of fluorescing tracer particles (in conjunction with pulsed images) are directly compared by using both methods simultaneously. Measurements are taken on the same blood sample in the same microchip using both methods. This work directly and statistically compares the two methods of mu PIV measurement in a controlled in vitro environment for the first time in literature. The pulsed method using fluorescing tracer particles is found to decrease the depth of correlation as expected, and to better represent the shape of the velocity profile. Two methods of velocity characterization are used (single and double parameter) and the pulsed images provide better shape representation in both cases.