Simple and rapid method for the diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease, measuring hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions released from leukocytes in whole blood.

A simple quantitative method to measure release of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions from leukocytes using less than 10 microliter blood is described. Whole blood instead of a leukocyte suspension was used. The release of hydrogen peroxide was measured fluorometrically by adding a blood sample to an assay mixture containing homovanillic acid, peroxidase and azide. The release of superoxide anions was measured spectrophotometrically with a dual wavelength spectrophotometer by adding a blood sample to an assay mixture containing cytochrome C. The normal values of the releasing activities are given.