Determination of surface antigens using the Coulter counter: a simple highly sensitive method.

Detection of cell surface antigens through the use of specific antisera has been possible using vital dye exclusion and radionuclide labeling. Viability determination by these and other more sophisticated methods, however, is often inconvenient. We have developed a method for analysis of cell death due to immune cytolysis that employs the Coulter counter, an electronic particle analyzer. Cell viability after treatment with antisera plus complement was determined and the values correlate well with those of Trypan blue dye exclusion tests. Future applications of this methodology are also discussed.