Effect of storage of chicken and turkey blood on the lymphocyte responses to concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen.

The effect of storage of whole blood of chicken and turkeys on the mitogen responses of lymphocytes to concanavalin A (con A) and pokeweed mitogen was investigated. It was found that, despite slight differences in optimum storage conditions with respect to mitogens, species and age of birds, blood could be stored for 24 h at 4 degrees C without significant reduction in the lymphoproliferative responses. However, even during the initial 24 h storage of blood at 4 degrees C, the levels of reduction in stimulation index (SI) values following con A stimulation, ranged from 27% for 3-4 week-old turkeys to 60% for 3-4 week-old white leghorn chickens.