Cryopreservation and short-term storage of human lymphocytes for surface marker analysis. Comparison of three methods.

Three methods were compared for the cryopreservation and short-term storage of human lymphocytes for cell surface marker analysis with monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. These methods were controlled-rate freezing followed by storage in liquid nitrogen (CR), direct placement into liquid nitrogen (LN), and direct placement at -70 degrees C (-70). Our findings show that the LN and -70 methods of cryopreserving lymphocytes are as effective as the CR method for the purpose of determining T cell and large granular lymphocyte subsets within 1 month after freezing.