Lymphocyte proliferative response
Last updated: Monday, 22, March, 2004
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 30 mL blood in preservative-free heparin. |
| Method | The proliferative response to specific antigen or mitogen (eg, phytohaemagglutinin [PHA], concanavalin A, pokeweed mitogen) is demonstrated by uptake of tritiated thymidine or expression of differentiation markers. |
| Reference Interval | Consult pathologist. |
| Application | Assessment of cell mediated immune competence. May be of use in assessment of histocompatibility differences in organ transplantation. Rarely indicated as a diagnostic test outside tranplantation area. |
| Interpretation | Impaired T lymphocyte proliferative response to mitogen or to HLA-incompatible stimulator cells indicates depressed cell mediated immunity. |
| Reference | Fletcher M et al. In: Rosen NR et al eds. Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology. 4th ed. ASM Press 1997. |