Simplified neutrophil hexose monophosphate shunt assay on whole blood.

Neutrophil function was determined in resting and phagocytic cells by an assay of hexose monophosphate shunt activity performed on small volumes of whole blood. This new micromethod clearly differentiated between zymosan-stimulated and unstimulated hexose monophosphate shunt activity. Furthermore, the whole blood microassay was able to measure the large quantities of 14CO2 that previously have been measured by hexose monophosphate shunt assays performed on erythrocyte-free leukocyte preparations. Thus, because of its simplicity and accuracy, the microassay described in this report can be used for routine evaluation of those metabolic activities of neutrophils associated with phagocytosis and bactericidal activity.