[Lymphocyte subsets in blood donors]

To establish the normal values among the different lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood, measured by surface antigen expression, in healthy population. To observe if there are potential differences in respect of age, gender or sample origin. To compare the absolute lymphocyte number obtained with flow cytometry and with a cellular counter.

Longitudinal and prospective study performed with 100 samples of blood donors. Direct immunofluorescence with triple color staining was made on whole blood, red blood cells were then lysed and samples were analysed with a flow cytometer. The lymphocyte subsets studied were the T lymphocytes and their subsets (CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes), the B lymphocytes and Natural Killer cells population. The absolute lymphocyte count was performed with an automatic cellular counter. Donor data such as age, gender and origin were recorded and were statistically analysed.

Normal ranges from the studied parameters are similar to other series. Comparison with gender, origin or age groups gave no significant difference, although there seems to be a tendency to decrease with the ageing of the population. Total absolute lymphocyte number did not differ between the results from the cellular counter or from the flow cytometer.

We found no differences in the absolute lymphocyte number nor in the lymphocyte subsets studied (T lymphocytes, CD4 lymphocytes, CD8 lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and NK cells) with respect to gender, age or sample source. We have established reference ranges for our laboratory. We have not found significant differences in the absolute lymphocyte number measured with cell counter or with flow cytometer.