RAPID AND QUANTITATIVE ASSAY OF PHAGOCYTOSIS-CONNECTED OXYGEN-CONSUMPTION BY LEUKOCYTES IN WHOLE-BLOOD

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 91  (4) , 568-575
Abstract
A simple method for the quantitative assay of phagocytosis-connected O2 consumption by human peripheral leukocytes was devised. Time-consuming and leukocyte-debilitating cell fractionation procedure was avoided by the use of whole blood as assay material. Heparinized venous blood was treated with CO and put into a cuvette. A Clark-type oxygen electrode was connected to the cuvette. A decrease in O2 concentration in the whole blood was induced by the addition of bacteria. The decrease was exclusively dependent on phagocytizing leukocytes. The entire procedure can be performed within 30 min. Blood from boys with CGD [chronic granulomatous disease] showed little or negligible increase in O2 consumption. Blood from their mothers showed about 30% activity of control blood.