A LYTIC REAGENT SYSTEM FOR FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF LEUKOCYTES BASED ON MORPHOLOGY OR IMMUNOPHENOTYPES

摘要

A lytic reagent composition and methods for differentiation and enumeration of leukocytes are disclosed. The lytic reagent is useful for rapid and automated sample preparation methods in an automated hematology analyzer, and also for manual and slow sample preparation methods required for immunophenotyping cells in a conventional fluorescence flow cytometer. The reagent system includes a nonionic surfactant in a hypotonic solution, an inorganic buffer to maintain the pH in a range of from about 6 to about 10, and optionally a leukocyte stabilizer. The reagent system is used to lyse red blood cells and stabilize the leukocytes so that antibody binding sites on the leukocytes remain unaffected by the process and the blood samples may be labeled with antibodies either before or after the lysis of the red blood cells.