Diagnostic Evaluation of Phagocytic Cell Function

 DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF PHAGOCYTIC CELL FUNCTION

 

Basically, three sets of tests are commonly used to evaluate a possible phagocytic cell deficiency. A complete blood count with differential is essential because the most common phagocytic cell deficiency is iatrogenically induced neutropenia . The expression of CD11/18 markers on neutrophil and monocyte cell membranes is the most efficient way to rule out adhesion molecule deficiencies, which are extremely rare . Finally, one of the variants of the tests used to measure the superoxide burst after ingestion of op-sonized particles, such as the NBT reduction assay, is used to investigate chronic granulo-matous disease, by far the most common form of primary phagocytic cell deficiency.

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