Question

Intravenous (IV) therapy is used for fluid replacement in instances of dehydration in humans and other animals. One type of IV fluid is essentially a saltwater solution. To determine the best concentration for therapy in people, a team of students is researching the effects of solutions of different salt concentrations on red blood cells. The following observations were made from three different red blood cell samples viewed under a microscope.

0.3% Saline (Cells swell) 0.9% Saline (Cells unchanged) 1.5% Saline (Cells shrink)

The team wants to extend the research project. What should the team of students do next to obtain data that are more conclusive?

a) Increase the concentration of saline to observe further cell shrinkage.
b) Decrease the concentration of saline to observe further cell swelling.
c) Change the type of saline solution used for a more accurate comparison.
d) Conduct additional trials with a wider range of saline concentrations.

Answer 1

The students should d. conduct additional trials with a wider range of saline concentrations to determine the optimal saline concentration for IV therapy that is isotonic to human blood cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

To obtain data that are more conclusive, the team of students should d) Conduct additional trials with a wider range of saline concentrations. By observing the effects of more concentrations, they can better determine at which points red blood cells begin to shrink (in hypertonic solutions) or swell (in hypotonic solutions), providing a more detailed understanding of cell response to osmotic pressure. This data will be essential for determining the optimal saline concentration for IV therapy that is isotonic to human blood cells to prevent hemolysis or crenation.

To obtain more conclusive data, the team of students should conduct additional trials with a wider range of saline concentrations. By testing a broader range of concentrations, they can observe the effects on red blood cells at different levels of salt concentration, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between saline concentration and cell response. This will support the team in determining the best concentration for IV therapy in instances of dehydration.