Effect of blood storage on lymphocyte subpopulations

In the evaluation of helper and suppressor T lymphocyte subpopulations testing of the cells may not be carried out until the day following collection of the blood. The possibility that changes occur during overnight storage at 4 degrees C or 22 degrees C has been investigated. No statistical differences in percentages of helper and suppressor T cells between fresh samples and overnight stored samples were found if the blood was kept at 22 degrees C.