The effect of lymphocyte recovery on lymphocyte typing results.

This study examines the relationship between percent recovery of lymphocytes and T- and B-cell typing results. Lymphocytes were recovered from heparinized whole blood by density gradient centrifugation. T- and B-cells were enumerated by spontaneous sheep rosetting and direct fluorescent antibody staining for surface immunoglobulin, respectively. The findings indicate that at low recovery levels ( less than 80%) there is a significant increase in variability of lymphocyte typing results and a significant increase in IgG-bearing B-lymphocytes. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. These results suggest that lymphocyte typing results should be interpreted in relation to recovery level and that recovery levels of greater than or equal to 80% are desirable.