COMPARISON OF LEUKOCYTES LABELED WITH INDIUM-111-2-MERCAPTOPYRIDINE-N-OXIDE AND IN-111 OXINE FOR ABSCESS DETECTION

  • 1 April 1987
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (4) , 438-441
Abstract
Indium-111 leukocyte scanning has evolved into a practical and highly accurate method for the identification of infectious and inflammatory processes. The most commonly used agent for labeling leukocytes has been [111In]oxine. We have investigated a newer agent, 2-mercaptopyridine-N-oxide (Merc) at our institution which unlike oxine, allows us to label leukocytes in plasma, using a simple kit procedure. Of the 92 consecutive patients referred for detection of localization of an infectious process, autologous leukocytes and 55 patients were labeled with [111In]Merc, while those of the remaining 37 patients were labeled with [111In]oxine. The sensitivities for Merc and oxine procedures were 87% and 92%, respectively, while the respective specificities were 100% and 92%. We conclude that the [111In]Merc-labeled leukocytes are equally as [111In]oxine-labeled leukocytes in detecting infectious processes. The use of [111In]Merc is advantageous over [111In]oxine for white blood cell labeling because of its easier preparation.