Therapeutic and diagnostic methods using total leukocyte surface antigens

The invention relates to the measurement of total leukocyte antigens, or fragments thereof, and the use of such measurements to enumerate cells, especially in whole blood. The term "total" leukocyte antigen used herein refers to the total amount of a leukocyte antigen in a sample, including that present in membrane and intracellular compartments and extracellular soluble compartments. Measurements of a total leukocyte antigen can be used to type cells, detect or diagnose disease or to monitor disease therapy. In a further embodiment, the invention relates to the measurement of both the amount of total leukocyte antigen and the amount of the soluble form of the leukocyte antigen and a comparison of the measured levels.