A Simple Method for Measurement of CD14weakCD16strongMonocytes in Peripheral Blood

Mounting evidence for the clinical significance of the CD14weakCD16strongmonocyte subpopulation in peripheral blood induced the demand for an efficient method for its determination. We propose a simple, fast, no-wash flow cyrometric method using fluorescence-labelled anti-CD14, anti-CD16, and anti-HLA-DR antibodies and ammonium chloride-based erythrocyre lysis. This type of analysis can be performed on a standard three-colour flow cyrometer. The method avoids interference by NK-cells and neutrophil granulocyres without defining monocytes by stringent light scatter criteria that might lead to a loss of CD14weakCD16strongmonocytes. It, therefore, offers high reliability and accuracy. Its performance recommends the method to be used for routine clinical measurements of CD14weakCD16strongmonocytes.