A flow cytofluorometric double staining technique for simultaneous determination of human mononuclear cell surface phenotype and cell cycle phase.

A double staining technique for the simultaneous determination by flow cytofluorometry of cell surface phenotype and cell cycle phase is described. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with fluorescein-conjugated monoclonal antibodies for cell surface phenotype, fixed serially with 2% paraformaldehyde and 71.25% ethanol, and stained with propidium iodide to label cellular DNA. The cells were then analyzed by flow cytofluorometry for both green and red fluorescence. A variety of cells, including T cells and their subsets, B cells, NK cells and monocyte/macrophages, can be identified by this technique with simultaneous determination of cell cycle phase.