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Whole blood assays for interferon-gamma: practicalities and potential for use as diagnostic tests in the field
H M Dockrell1, G F Black, R E Weir
1Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Insights
Whole-blood assays offer a robust method for assessing T-cell responses to antigens. These immunodiagnostic tools show promise for diagnosing leprosy and measuring Mycobacterium leprae exposure.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Diagnostic Assays
Background:
- Whole-blood assays stimulate heparinized blood with antigens to measure cytokine production.
- These assays require small blood samples and basic laboratory facilities, making them suitable for field use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the robustness and applicability of whole-blood assays for assessing T-cell responses.
- To explore the potential of these assays in diagnosing leprosy and monitoring Mycobacterium leprae exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized diluted blood, 6-day whole-blood assays in a large study of BCG vaccination effects.
- Measured cytokine production in plasma or supernatant after antigen stimulation.
Main Results:
- The 6-day whole-blood assay demonstrated robustness in assessing T-cell responses to various antigens.
- The assay is effective for both crude and recombinant antigens.
Conclusions:
- Whole-blood assays are reliable for evaluating T-cell immunity.
- These assays can be adapted for diagnosing leprosy and assessing M. leprae exposure in populations.
Abstract:
Recent years have seen the introduction of a number of whole-blood assays, in which unseparated heparinized blood is stimulated with antigen either overnight or for as long as 6 days, and cytokine production is measured in the plasma or supernatant. These assays have potential for use in the field as immunodiagnostic assays, as they require only a small blood sample and basic laboratory facilities. Use of these assays in a large study of the immunological effects of BCG vaccination in Malawi has shown that the diluted blood, 6-day whole-blood assays is robust, and can be used to assess T-cell responses to both crude and recombinant antigens. If used with antigens specific to Mycobacterium leprae, these assays could be used to measure exposure of M. leprae within communities or populations, or to aid the early diagnosis of leprosy.
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