The nitroblue tetrazolium test in the estimation of urinary and serum leukocyte metabolism in urinary infections. A preliminary note.

For the study of leukocyte metabolism in the serum and the urine from 52 patients with urinary infections, the Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) test was used for a qualitative estimation of leukocyturia. It was observed that 26 of the 52 patients (50%) presented higher values of NBT positive urinary neutrophils than in the control group. The NBT test might be useful in the estimation of the cellular immune response in the course of urinary infections.