Comparison of a simplified whole blood and isolated lymphocyte stimulation technique

Whole blood and isolated lymphocyte stimulation in healthy men were compared utilizing PHA, ConA, and PWM. Dose response curves with each of the 3 mitogens were found to differ with the two techniques of lymphocytes stimulation. When incubation time was lengthened PWM responses increased markedly in both the whole blood and isolated lymphocyte assays. Increased incubation time had no effect on PHA cultures and increased the responses with ConA in the whole blood method. In each study, responses with 3H-thymidine were comparable to responses utilizing 125IUdR.