The refractive index matching (immersion) method is used to enhance the optical penetration depth of whole blood in in vitro study by the NIR optical coherence tomography (OCT) technique. It was found that for tested agents (glucose, dextrans, propylene glycol, and trazograph) the enhancement of penetration was from 20 % to 150 %. In the blood sedimentation study, regular or irregular oscillations or jumps of the RBC/plasma boundary were observed. The oneminute time period of regular oscillations correlated well with the kinetics of the aggregation process. For the first time OCT images of blood aggregates in a small plastic vessel were observed. Presented results have potentials in intravascular OCT imaging and in blood sedimentation and aggregation studies for diagnostic purposes.