[Evaluation of the interferon status of human subjects by whole-blood specimens]

A simple method for the determination of three parameters of human interferon status: serum interferon (IFN) and induction of alpha- and gamma-IFN in specimens of 10-fold-diluted whole blood in a volume of 200 microliters is described. Standard parameters of interferon status of normal subjects in the whole blood are given which can be visually presented as a triangle of interferon status, and its deviations in various pathological conditions. The whole-blood method is recommended for large-scale clinical surveys, especially in pediatrics.