The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Pathology

Cellular Immunology Useful Information

The Cellular Immunology laboratory provides the following testing

  • Regional CD4 monitoring service
  • Diagnosis and monitoring of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies
  • CD34 stem cell enumeration (for HSCT only)

All patients with suspected primary immunodeficiency should be referred to the Immunology service.

 

Lymphocyte Surface Marker Analysis

In suspected primary immunodeficiency: if possible please ensure that a full blood count is performed simultaneously. In paediatric samples where volume is a problem, please send EDTA sample to the laboratory who will arrange testing for a full blood count. All requests for lymphocyte surface marker analysis, other than for HIV monitoring, should be discussed with an Immunology consultant.

In HIV monitoring: please ensure that a full blood count is performed simultaneously. This test is indicated in the monitoring of HIV infection. The use of CD4 counts as a surrogate marker for the diagnosis of HIV infection is unhelpful. A low CD4 count is not diagnostic of HIV infection, occuring in a wide variety of other conditions (e.g. primary immunodeficiency, viral and bacterial infection, lupus, steroid therapy).

In CD34 stem cell enumeration: used for HSCT donor monitoring only.

 

Neutrophil Function

All patients requiring neutrophil function should be referred to the Consultant Immunologists.

 

Functional Cellular Studies

All patients requiring functional cellular studies should be referred to the Consultant Immunologists.

Functional Cellular assays are strictly by prior arrangement only.