An appraisal of the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test

The available literature on the nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test is reviewed. The mechanism of this test is poorly understood. There are two basic methods of performing the test, namely, the stimulated and the spontaneous methods. However, the test procedure has not been standardized, and numerous modifications have ensued resulting in a number of technics. The stimulated test has proved to be valuable for screening patients or carriers with chronic granulomatous disease of childhood. It is one of the useful tests in studying neutrophil dysfunction. On the other hand, extensive accumulated data indicate that this test, be it stimulted or spontaneous, cannot be relied upon as an absolute test to differentiate bacterial from nonbacterial infectious disease as there have been numerous false-positive and false-negative results. When this test is used, the result should be interpreted in the context of other laboratory test results and the clinical picture of the patient. Preliminary data indicate that in certain diseases, if the initial test is positive in a particular patient, it may be useful as one of the follow-up tests to ascertain the activity of the disease process.