Oxidase-based chemiluminescence assay of phagocytic leukocytes in whole blood and body fluids applicable to point-of-care (poc) diagnostic testing point-of-care (poc) measurement of absolute neutrophil function (anf)

Abstract

A method for estimating a number of phagocytes in a body fluid of an animal includes stimulating NADPH oxidase activity of the phagocytes; and quantifying a resulting reductive dioxygenation of a chemiluminigenic substrate by an emitted chemiluminescence of the chemiluminigenic substrate using an instrument capable of measuring light. The NADPH oxidase activity of the phagocytes is preferably stimulated by an immunologic or chemical capable of activating a respiratory burst by the phagocytes. The NADPH oxidase activity of the phagocytes is preferably stimulated by a stimulus in solution or coated to a surface contacted by the phagocytes. The stimulus is preferably phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). The animal is preferably human, and the body fluid is preferably blood and/or spinal fluid. The phagocytes are preferably neutrophil leukocytes, and the chemiluminigenic substrate is preferably lucigenin (N,N′-dimethyl-9,9′-biacridinium dinitrate). Also provided is a method of treatment based on the estimation method.

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