[An assessment of the bactericidal capacity of the blood monocytes in tuberculosis patients].

The nitro-blue tetrasolum (NBT) test was used for the study of the bactericidal capacity of blood monocytes in 30 healthy subjects and 86 pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The monocyte capacity of tuberculosis patients to restore NBT in the process of phagocytosis was found to be reduced. The NPT test parameters in the absence of cell stimulation were the same in both groups of the examined subjects. Administration of 50 TU of tuberculin subcutaneously is accompanied by the lowered capacity of monocytes to restore NPT during phagocytosis in patients with minimal activity of the tuberculous process, while this capacity was increased in subjects with post-tuberculous changes in the lungs.