A SIMPLE AND EFFICIENT METHOD OF SEPARATING PERIPHERAL-BLOOD LEUCOCYTES FOR IN-VITRO STUDIES

A technique for the separation of leucocytes from blood is described which was found to be suitable in man and several laboratory species—namely, mouse, rat, rabbit, guineapig, and sheep. Blood is overlayered on a solution of high density containing an agglutinating agent. Separation occurs by clumping of the erythrocytes at the interphase followed by rapid sedimentation. In-vitro studies showed that leucocytes separated by this technique reacted normally to phytohæmagglutinin (P.H.A.), and had adequate antibody-forming capacity.