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Lymphocyte subset counts in skin puncture and venous blood compared
S E Cracknell1, R F Hinchliffe, J S Lilleyman
1University of Sheffield Department of Paediatrics, Children's Hospital, Western Bank.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Skin puncture blood offers a reliable alternative for CD4 lymphocyte counts, especially in pediatric patients or those with challenging venous access. This method provides comparable results to traditional venous blood draws, with minor, clinically insignificant differences.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Accurate CD4 lymphocyte counts are crucial for monitoring immune status, particularly in conditions like HIV/AIDS.
- Traditional methods rely on venous blood draws, which can be challenging in certain patient populations, such as children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of using skin puncture blood for CD4 lymphocyte counts.
- To compare CD4 counts obtained from skin puncture samples with those from venous blood samples.
Main Methods:
- Paired venous and skin puncture blood samples were collected from 22 children and 10 adults.
- Lymphocyte subsets, including CD4 counts, were analyzed in both sample types.
Main Results:
- Highly correlated paired values were observed between skin puncture and venous blood samples.
- Skin puncture samples showed approximately 7% higher cell counts for all lymphocyte subsets compared to venous samples.
- Differences were statistically borderline for total lymphocytes and most subsets, except for CD3+ CD8+ T lymphocytes, and were clinically insignificant.
Conclusions:
- Skin puncture blood is a reliable alternative for CD4 lymphocyte counts.
- This method is particularly advantageous for pediatric patients or individuals with difficult venous access.
- The minor variations observed do not compromise the clinical utility of skin puncture-derived CD4 counts.