Studies on Leucocyte Function by Measuring Respiration and Nitroblue Tetrazolium Reduction by Simplified Methods

Two modified tests for evaluating leucocyte metabolic characteristics, i.e. oxygen consumption rate and nitroblue tetrazolium reduction capacity in the absence and presence of phagocytogenic agents, are presented here. Oxygen consumption was measured using hemoglobin as indicator of oxygen tension, which is thus recorded spectro-photometrically. The assay of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction capacity was simplified, thus permitting higher testing capacity. The methods were evaluated on a family including three members suffering from chronic granulomatous disease. Affected individuals did not show the normal respiratory burst in conjunction with phagocytosis nor did they reduce nitroblue tetrazolium.