Lymphocyte blastoid transformation assay by cytofluorography

This rapid, automated, micromethod quantitates blastoid transformation using a supra vital stain, acridine orange, in quantitating the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) before and after cell stimulation. Only 0.2 ml of culture containing 1.0 X 10(5) to 1.5 X 10(5) lymphocytes is required to obtain results every 5 minutes. These results include a total cell count and cell counts of the populations with increased RNA (I-RNA), and increased DNA (I-DNA). The I-RNA and I-DNA lymphocyte populations, as determined by the cytofluorometric method, correlate well with the accepted H3 uridine and C14 thymidine uptake methodology. The phytohemagglutinin dose response measurements by the 2 methods also correlate well. Blast cell counts, by Wright-Giemsa staining, showed near identity to the I-RNA cell population.