Evaluation of the influence of potential toxins on neutrophil function

Neutrophils undergo a complex series of events when functioning to control bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Any factor that interferes with neutrophil production or suppresses neutrophil function will rapidly make the animal more susceptible to infectious diseases. In vitro assays are used to detect and characterize defects in neutrophil function that may be induced by exposure to potential toxins. This paper focuses on important considerations in designing experiments for the evaluation of neutrophil function and interpretation of data.