Abstract
Venous blood from healthy volunteers, patients with known bacterial disease, and patients with non-bacterial illnesses was incubated with a solution of nitroblue-tetrazolium (N.B.T.). 100 neutrophils were examined for cells containing dark deposits of formazan (reduced N.B.T.). The mean proportion of such N.B.T.-positive neutrophils was 8·5% in healthy controls and between 5·8% and 9·5% in patients with non-bacterial illnesses, including viral or other diseases often confused with acute bacterial infection. In patients with bacterial illnesses (notably meningitis) the proportion was much greater (29-47%), and the absolute number of N.B.T.-positive neutrophils was raised. This test is offered as a simple, new, and useful means of differentiating certain types of bacterial infection from non-bacterial diseases.
Published Version
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