A simple method for measurement of CD14(weak) CD16(strong) monocytes in peripheral blood

Mounting evidence for the clinical significance of the CD 14(weak) CD 16(st rong) monocyte subpopulation in peripheral blood induced the demand for an efficient method for its determination. We propose a simple, fast, no-wash now cytometric method using fluorescence-labelled anti-CD14, anti-CD16, and anti-HLA-DR antibodies and ammonium chloride-based erythrocyte lysis. This type of analysis can be performed on a standard three-colour flow cytomete r. The method avoids interference by NK-cells and neutrophil granulocytes w ithout defining monocytes by stringent light scatter criteria that might le ad to a loss of CD14(weak) CD16(strong) monocytes. It, therefore, offers hi gh reliability and accuracy Its performance recommends the method to be use d for routine clinical measurements of CD14(weak) CD16(strong) monocytes.