A METHOD FOR MEASURING T-LYMPHOCYTE RESPONSES BY CHEMILUMINESCENT ASSAYS

摘要

The response T lymphocytes to different activators is detected by simultaneously registering and evaluating the chemiluminescence emission of specific reactions in multiple samples (5) on a multiple-sample-carrier (3). After the contact with an activator (mitogen or antigen), T lymphocytes are activated and various mediators are produced, being capable of activating other blood cells being present in the same blood or cell suspension. They can produce an oxydative burst, which can be, together with a chemiluminescent agent, translated into chemiluminescent signals. The samples (5) to be tested and the reagents required for the chemiluminscence reaction are placed at the foreseen locations (4) into the multiple-sample-carrier (30). This carrier is light-proof sealed with a suitable cover plate (6) or cassette having several photoconductors (9). The connections (7) of the photoconductors to the cover plate (6) or the cassette correspond to the samples placed on the multiple-sample-carrier (3) with regard to location and number. The photons emitted by the samples are led by the photoconductor (9, 10) to a detector system (12) which converts the signals of each sample individually into signals which can be detected by a computer. These converted signals are directed to a computer evaluation system (14) which evaluates the signals emitted by the samples (5).