Phagocytosis of technetium-99m sulfur colloid by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

This study characterizes a new phagocytic assay system utilizing technetium-99m sulfur colloid as the phagocytic particle. Uptake of sulfur colloid by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes is a time and temperature dependent process that requires glucose for optimal uptake. In contrast to many other systems, sulfur colloid phagocytosis appears to be serum and divalent cation independent. An attractive feature of this system is the 10-fold increase in particle uptake with phagocytosis as compared to that at zero time.