The Detection of Neutrophil Activation by Automated Blood Cell Counter in Sepsis

Neutrophils serve as the frontline defenders in the host's response to infections. However, the available methods for assessing the activated status of neutrophils are still limited. The immature cells that appear during sepsis are large with complex cytoplasmic components and rich nucleic acids, making them diagnosable by cell population data analysis using the automated cell counter. The changes are expressed as increased forward scattered light, side fluorescence light, and side fluorescence distribution width. Additionally, changes in side fluorescence light may indicate the neutrophil extracellular trap formation and can be useful for the diagnosis of sepsis-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation.