Methods for quantifying phagocytosis and bacterial killing by human neutrophils

This paper reviews a variety of methods available for quantifying phagocyto sis and bacterial killing by neutrophils. We outline the advantages and dis advantages of each technique, with the selection of a technique for researc h or analytical purposes being dependent on the information required and th e resources available. A detailed protocol is provided for a comprehensive microbiological technique that measures both phagocytosis and killing in a single assay, along with a kinetic analysis for measuring and calculating s eparate rate constants for the two events. The kinetic analysis can be easi ly adapted to other methods to give the same quantitative information. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.