METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE DEGREE OF REACTION BETWEEN ANTIGENS AND LEUKOCYTE CELLULAR ANTIBODIES

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the objective determination of the degree of reaction between a suspected allergen and a blood sample, by comparing the number and/or size-­ distribution of white blood cells present in the blood sample before and after reaction thereof with the suspected allergen. The apparatus 10 comprises a counter 12, an analyzer 14, a computer interface 16 and a computer 18, each connected in series, and a disc 20, a printer 22 and a printer 24 each connected to the output of computer 18.

Description: This invention relates to the field of antigen/leukocyte cellular antibody reactions; and more particularly to a method and apparatus for the indirect determination of the level of cellular antibodies present in human blood, and the degree of reaction (if any) between a suspected allergen and the leukocyte cellular antibodies present in the blood of a particular individual. Allergies are common and debilitating afflictions which touch the lives of millions of people the world over. The basic bodily reactions which comprise the allergic reaction are well-known and understood. When an assimilated amino acid, or antigen (hereafter referred to generally as a "substance"), enters the body, the body's immune defense system identifies it as being either harmful (i.e. the substance is a "toxin" or an "allergen"), or as not harmful (i.e. the substance is "neutral"). If the substance is identified as neutral, then the body does not react in any extraordinary fashion. If, however, the substance is identified as an allergen, the body reacts to protect itself by creating specific cellular antibodies which will combat the intruding allergen. In this instance, I have observed that the body's first reaction is to enlarge the white blood cells (leukocytes), increasing their internal pressure, and thereby destroying the outer cell membrane wall of the white blood cell, which allows the cell's contents to extrude. This is the observed reaction of the white blood cells to the allergen. The primary known method of testing the antigen/antibody reaction is known as "cytotoxic testing" and is described in detail in W.T.K. Bryan et al., Cytotoxic Reactions in the diagnosis of Food Allergy , 4 Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America (No. 3), pp. 523-34 (October 1971). Essentially, this method comprises mixing a sample of the patient's blood with a small amount of dried extract of a suspected allergen which has been pre-dried on a microscope slide. This mixture is allowed to react for approximately two hours, and is then observed. The degree of reaction (if any) between the suspected allergen and the white blood cells is directly observed, and the degree of reaction therebetween is then judged subjectively by a trained technician who decides whether the condition of the few observed cells indicates the occurrence of an allergic reaction. The accuracy of this test therefore depends entirely upon the abilities and talents of the individual technician performing the test. Since the test is subjective, therefore, its reliability will depend on the quality of the training imparted to the technician, and so the results may well vary from technician to technician. It is noted that it may take a prolonged instructional period to properly train a technician to perform a cytotoxic test such as described. Accordingly, this subjective nature of the test is extremely undesirable, as it is unreliable and may lead to inaccuracies. In another known method for determining the degree of reaction between a suspected allergen and at least one blood sample, which method is described in US-A-4 309 184, the blood sample is mixed with the allergen and tested, with regard to the leukocytes present therein, before and after forming said mixture, and the test results obtained are compared with each other. The theory of this method of measuring the reaction by measuring the chemical constituencies of a patient's blood before and after exposure to the suspected allergen is that interior components of the leukocytes will extrude, should the cell undergo a positive allergic reaction. The presence of the interior components of the cell on the exterior thereof indicates a positive reaction. There are two essential drawbacks to this known method in that, firstly, the test is very expensive and, secondly, a positive reaction may only lead to an enlargement of the leukocytes, but not to the bursting thereof, so that a false negative may result where no bursting ("lysis") occurs. It is thus the aim of the invention to provide a method and an apparatus for objectively determining the degree of reaction between a suspected allergen and the white blood cells of a patient, and, in particular, to safeguard that in testing accuracy and reliability will not depend upon the subjective interpretation of microscopic reactions by a technician. In a method for determining the degree of reaction between a suspected allergen and at least one blood sample, in which method the blood sample is mixed with the allergen and tested with regard to the white blood cells present therein, before and after forming said mixture, and in which method the test results obtained are compared, the above aim is achieved in that the testing is performed mechanically by counting the number of white blood cells of a first blood sample; counting the number of unreacted white blood cells of the mixture; and comparing the number of white blood cells counted in the first blood sample with the number of unreacted white blood cells counted in the mixture. It is thus made possible to obtain reactions of thousands of white blood cells as opposed to limited microscopic readings. This will give a broader scope of the averages; and to obtain a specific size-distribution of the normal size cellular distribution. Also, it is made possible to obtain results of the test based on the count of thousands of white blood cells, and to obtain a direct measurement of destruction as well as a cellular shift of the white blood cells in the presence of the antigen. In a specific embodiment of the invention relating to the apparatus, there may be provided a counter for counting the number of white blood cells in a first, control, sample and also in a second blood sample having a suspected allergen mixed therewith, and having an output including the result of each count; an analyzer coupled to the output of the counter for analyzing those outputs to generate a size-distribution of the white blood cell counts performed by the counter; comparison means coupled to the analyzer for comparing the counts of the first and second blood samples and their respective size-distributions, to thereby determine if the suspected allergen has caused an allergic reaction. The above brief description, as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein: FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the connection of the various components which make up the present inventive apparatus; and FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the steps of the inventive method. As shown in Fig. 1, the inventive apparatus 10 comprises a counter 12, an analyzer 14, a computer interface 16 and a computer 18, each connected in series, and a disc 20, a printer 22 and a printer 24 each connected to the output of computer 18. To commence the operation of the inventive apparatus (generally shown in Fig. 2) the user thereof must first obtain a blood sample from the person being tested (subject). Preferably, the user will draw 10cc of oxalated blood from the subject, using sodium citrate as an anti-coagulant (i.e. the blood is stored in blue top B-D brand vacutainers) to prevent clotting of the blood during the test. In order to secure an even cellular distribution over the entire volume of the blood sample, it is necessary to transfer blood from the vacutainer to an apparatus (not shown) which will have the capability of continuous flow circulation, in known fashion. It is preferred that a single blood sample drawn from the patient be used during a battery of tests for a number of allergies, and so the blood will be separated into a plurality of smaller samples for testing. The preferred method of separation is to place 100 microliters of the blood into a receptacle containing an appropriate suspension medium, e.g. either 10cc or 20cc of Isoton-II (manufactured by Coulter Electronics Ltd.). The precise amount of Isoton-II used is not critical, except that the same amount should be used throughout the test, i.e. in each sample of the same blood. This will ensure that measurements taken for the test and control samples may be directly compared by virtue of the fact that they both have the same number of white blood cells and volume. At this point, each sample will contain a mixture of Isoton-II and whole blood, which in turn includes white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. The only particles which are of importance to the studied reaction, however, are the white blood cells, and so it is important that counter 12 only count those cells. In the preferred embodiment counter 12 is Coulter Counter Model Z-M, which may be set to count the number of particles within a given size range. Thus, since platelets are much smaller than white blood cells, it is simple to avoid counting them by setting the minimum particle size at a size greater than that of platelets, and less than that of white blood cells, for example 48 microns. To avoid counting red blood cells, which are of roughly comparable size to the white blood cells, it is preferred that those cells be eliminated. This is preferably accomplished by adding a substance which will immediately cause red blood cells to disintegrate (a "lysing" substance), for example Zapoglobin II (Coulter). Alternatively, the red blood cells may be mechanically removed from the sample. After the red blood cells are eliminated, and counter 12 is set to the predetermined minimum size level, counter 12 may be used to count and size the white blood cells of a first sample. This first sample is used as a control sample, as it has has no suspected allergen introduced thereto. The remaining ("test") samples of blood are treated similarly, except that the test samples have the suspected allergens added thereto. Presently known lysing agents may be dangerous to white blood cells, and so the following method is at this time preferred: Step I -- 100 microliters of the patient's blood is introduced into to a predetermined amount of suspension medium. Because of the continuous mixing of the blood, each 100 microliters thereof shall have a practically identical count and cellular size distribution. Step II -- 100 microliters of a premixed food extract is added to the test sample. Nothing is added to the control sample. Both samples are allowed to stand for 60 minutes. Step III -- Using Zapoglobin II we lyse red blood cells. Using Lyse-S-II, Lyse-S-III or Acid Lyse (all Coulter), we lyse reacted white blood cells without destruction of normal non-reacted white blood cells. It is preferred to use 50 microliters or more of the agent, depending upon the number of white blood cells counted in the control sample, and a 100 microliter mixture of Lyse-S-II and Lyse-S-III is generally satisfactory for normal white blood cell levels. Step IV -- 30 seconds after lysing, we take readings of the white blood cell count and the cellular distribution. The food extract of the suspected allergen is prepared by adding 100mg of dried extract to 10ml of Isoton II or III (or any mixture thereof) or in 10ml of injectable paragen-free, sterilized water. This mixture is then allowed to stand for 24 hours at room temperature, and then filtered through a mesh capable of filtering solid particles. Suitable extracts are manufactured by Hollister Steel Co., and suspected allergens prepared as described may be stored at 4 degrees C for ten days. The ten cubic centimeters of drawn blood prepared as described will be suitable for approximately 75 tests. At this point, the test sample may be introduced to counter 12 and the number of white blood cells therein may be counted. The output of counter 12 is read visually, to determine if the number of white blood cells in the test sample is less than that of the control (indicating positive reaction) or it may be input to analyzer 14, such as the Coulter Channelyzer, to obtain cellular population distributions of the number of white blood cells present in each of a plurality of size-distribution ranges. This is referred to as "sizing". The output of analyzer 14 may also be input to computer 18 through interface 16, in known fashion, to store the data and automatically compare the results of the count of each test sample to that of the control sample as well as the size-distribution of the white blood cells. If the number of white blood cells in a test sample is less than that of the control by more than the error factor of counter 12, than there is a positive reaction. Also, if the comparison of the size-distribution results indicate enlargement of white blood cells, then there is also a positive reaction. Once all comparisons are made, the output of computer 18 may be displayed by any means desired, such as printer 22 or video display 24, and may also be stored on disc 20 for future reference. In this fashion, it may be objectively determined if the patient has an allergic reaction to any of the tested substances. As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the above description represents the preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiment of the invention, which may be realized in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. For example, the entire apparatus may be automated so that once the sample of white blood cells is drawn from the patient there need be no further human intervention or action until the results are complete. Therefore, the full scope of such invention is to be measured by the appended claims, giving thereto the full range of equivalence which comes within the meaning and range of the claims.

Claims: A method for determining the degree of reaction between a suspected allergen and at least one blood sample, wherein the blood sample is mixed with the allergen and tested with regard to the white blood cells present therein, before and after forming said mixture and wherein the test results obtained are compared, characterised in that the testing is performed mechanically by counting the number of white blood cells in a first blood sample; counting the number of unreacted white blood cells in the mixture; and comparing the number of white blood cells counted in the first blood sample with the number of unreacted white blood cells counted in the mixture, to thereby determine whether the suspected allergen has reacted with the white blood cells in the mixture. The method according to claim 1, characterised by the step of: lysing any red blood cells present in the first blood sample prior to counting the white blood cells therein. The method according to claims 1 or 2, characterised by the step of: lysing any red blood cells present in the mixture prior to counting the number of unreacted white blood cells therein. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the step of: lysing any reacted white blood cells in the mixture prior to counting the number of unreacted white blood cells therein. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the counting of white blood cells of at least one of the first blood sample and the mixture is performed by counting the number of white blood cells within each of a plurality of varying size ranges. The method according to claim 5, characterised by the step of: producing a graph showing the number of white blood cells counted in each size range. A method according to claim 1, wherein the suspected allergen is reacted with a sample of a patient's blood, comprised by the steps of: separating the sample into a control sample and at least one test sample having approximately equal distributions of white blood cells therein: lysing any red blood cells in the control sample; mixing the suspected allergen with a test sample to form a mixture, and thereby allow the suspected allergen to react with the white blood cells present in the test sample; counting the number of white blood cells in the control sample; mixing the suspected allergen with the test sample to form the mixture, and thereby allow the suspected allergen to react with the white blood cells present in the test sample; lysing any red blood cells in the mixture; lysing any reacted white blood cells in the mixture; counting the number of unreacted white blood cells in the mixture; comparing the number of unreacted white blood cells in the mixture with the number of white blood cells in the control sample, to thereby determine whether the suspected allergen has caused a reaction with the patient's blood. The method according to claim 7, characterised in that the counting of the white blood cells in the control sample and the mixture is performed by counting the number of white blood cells within each of a plurality of varying size range, and that the method further comprises the steps of: generating a size-distribution graph of the counts of the distribution of white blood cells in each of the control sample and the mixture; and comparing the size-distribution graph of the white blood cell count of the control sample with the size-distribution graph of the white blood cell count of the mixture. The method according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the determination of whether the suspected allergen has caused an allergic reaction with the patient's blood is positive when the number of white blood cells counted in the mixture is less than the number of white blood cells counted in the control sample by an amount greater than the error factor of the equipment used. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the counting of the white blood cells, the reacted white blood cells and the unreacted white blood cells is performed by sizing the cells. The method according to claim 10, characterised by the step of: lysing any red blood cells present in the first blood sample prior to sizing the white blood cells therein. The method according to claim 10 or 11 comprised by the step of: lysing any red blood cells present in the mixture prior to sizing the unreacted white blood cells therein. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, comprised by the step of: lysing any reacted white blood cells in the mixture prior to sizing the unreacted white blood cells therein. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the sizing of the white blood cells of at least one of the first blood sample and the mixture is performed by counting the number of white blood cells within each of a plurality of varying size ranges. An apparatus for determining the degree of reaction between at least one suspected allergen and a patient's blood, wherein the suspected allergen is mixed with a first portion of the patient's blood in a test sample, and a second portion of the patient's blood is used as a control sample; the apparatus being characterised by: a counter (12) for counting the number of white blood cells in each of the test sample and control sample, the counter (12) having an output comprising the results of each of said counts; an analyser (14) coupled to the output of the counter (12) for obtaining the cellular size distribution of the white blood cells in each of the test sample and control sample, the analyzer (14) having an output comprising the output of the counter (12) and the cellular size distributions; and comparing means (18) coupled to the output of the analyzer (14) for comparing the number of white blood cells in the control sample and also for comparing the respective cellular size distributions of the white blood cells in each of the test sample and the control sample and also for comparing the respective size distributions of the white blood cells in each of the test sample, to thereby determine whether the suspected allergen has reacted with the patient's blood and therefore caused a reduction in the number of white blood cells present in the test sample, or a shift in the size distribution of the white blood cells therein.

Inventors: PASULA, MARK J.
Applicants: PASULA, MARK J.
Application year: 1984
Main classification: G01N15
IPC codes: A61K39, G01N33, G01N15