A routine method for the measurement of the sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium content of human lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT

We describe a rapid, single-step procedure for the isolation of human lymphocytes from whole blood, suitable for a routine clinical laboratory. Lymphocyte content of sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium were measured simultaneously in a group of controls and found to fall within expected ranges. Expression of results per mg protein produced less inter-individual variation than per unit cell. In order to examine another, physiologically different but normal population, women during pregnancy were also studied. The cation content of lymphocytes expressed per mg protein was significantly lower than for controls due to a 44% increase in protein content per cell.