Defining the normal range for screening panel of neutrophil function tests in healthy adult Indian participants

Abstract

Background: Neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cells are known to play a major role in the fundamental physiological response to tackle with microbial infections via different mechanisms. A series of assays have been developed that mimic neutrophil functions both in vivo and in vitro to look at specific deficiencies of neutrophil function. There is need to develop method to have defined normal range for these tests to differentiate between health and disease. We aim to define normal range for panel of screening assays in healthy adult Indian participants. Materials and Methods: The study included 30 male and 30 female adult healthy participants. A volume of 10 ml of blood was collected from each participant. Four different assays that included chemotaxis, phagocytosis, intracellular killing (candidacidal assay), and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) test were performed. For defined range was established for all the assays. Simultaneously controls were set up for all the tests. Results: For NBT assay, the mean values for control and test were 13.58 and 58.90 respectively. The mean values for the control and test for phagocytosis assay were 1.77 and 4.49. Similarly, the values for candidacidal assay were 11.67% and 34.98. Finally, the values for chemotaxis test were 2.13 cm for Formyl-Methionyl-Leucyl-Phenylalanine, 0.54 cm for participant's serum and 0.48 cm for the medium. Conclusion: Based on the data generated, the values produced in the present investigation should be considered as normal range for adult population between the age group of 25–50 years for the protocols followed in the study.