Index of phagocyte activation based on luminescence of dehydrogenase coenzymes.

In the cytoplasm of activated neutrophils and monocytes of blood, as well as microphages and macrophages of festering wounds, the incubation with nitroblue tetrazolium results, in two types of autoluminescence. The blue luminescence as a result of reduced pyridine nucleotides (RP) characterizes the non-active state of phagocytes. The yellow-green luminescence due to oxygenated flavoproteins (OF) signifies the active state of phagocytes. The luminescence intensity ratio of OF to RP reflects the rate of energy output and is the energy index of phagocyte activation.