A method for measuring rate of neutrophil phagocytosis of Staphylococcus epidermidis or Candida guilliermondii using uptake of tritiated uridine.

A method is described for measuring the rate of neutrophil phagocytosis, together with the total and intracellular kill at 20 min of 2 different organisms. The technique is sensitive over the early stages of phagocytosis as it distinguishes between adherent and engulfed organisms and is totally objective. It therefore allows detection of defects in phagocytosis which are missed if only the end point is assessed. Both total and intracellular killing are measured under the same conditions as those used to assess phagocytosis and results obtained on the same day the assay is performed.