Application of a combined rosette-fluorescent test in studies on leukemia cells

In 13 healthy blood donors and 42 patients with leukemia and lymphosarcoma, the combined rosette-fluorescent test allowed simultaneous evaluation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and leukemia cells for presence of membrane immunoglobulins and sheep erythrocyte receptors. In healthy subjects, the mean value for T cells was 68 +/- 9%, for B cells 16 +/- 5%, for nonreceptor cells 15 +/- 8%, and for cells possessing both markers 0.6 +/-0.8%. In cases of acute leukemia, nonreceptor cells predominated (59 +/-24%), and values for T cells were usually low (19 +/- 13%). In chronic lymphocytic leukemias and lymphosarcoma, B and "null" cells usually predominated more or less. In all patients values for double-receptor cells were low. The combined test proved to be a convenient method for simultaneous evaluation of both markers. It is also useful for recognizing blastic leukemia cells devoid of both receptors and for determing values for T and B lymphocytes.