We investigated the usefulness of a one-tube, three-colour flow cytometric method for enumerating CD4 + and CD8 + lymphocytes. This method does not use any control antibodies and we compared it to the standard methods using either control and CD14/CD45 antibodies or control antibodies only on 38 blood samples from healthy and human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. The one-tube method showed good agreement with the other, more complicated methods and is therefore suitable for reliable enumeration of CD4+ and CD8 + T-lymphocytes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Guidelines for the performance of CD4 + T-cell determinations in persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep1992; 41(RR 8): 1–17.
2.
LokenMRBrosnanJMBachBAAultKA. Establishing optimal gates for immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. Cytometry1990; 11: 453–9.
3.
McCoyJPBlumsteinLDonaldsonMHBaxterJDByrneBCGekowskiKM. Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a one-tube, three-color method for obtaining absolute CD4 counts and CD4:CD8 ratios. Am J Clin Pathol1994; 101: 279–82.
4.
HollisS.Analysis of method comparison studies. Ann Clin Biochem1996; 33: 1–4.
5.
LillevangSTSprogøe-JackobsonUSimonsenBKristensenT.Three-colour flow cytometric immunophenotyping in HIV-patients; comparison to dual-colour protocols. Scand J Immunol1995; 41: 114–20.
