Decrease of a normal colon and granulocyte antigen (NCA) in whole lysed blood of myelosuppressed patients.

A normal colon and granulocyte antigen (NCA) is found in large amounts in neutrophil granulocytes. A method combining freeze-thawing and ultrasonication of whole blood proved to be the most efficient in recovery of NCA from separated granulocytes or whole blood. NCA in whole blood was studied in healthy persons and in 8 patients with embryonal carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy, with a myelosuppressive effect. A strong correlation (r = 0.96) between the total number of peripheral granulocytes and the amount of NCA in lysed whole blood was found in both healthy persons and myelosuppressed patients. The NCA content per 10(9) granulocytes was equal in granulocytopenic and healthy persons. NCA measurements therefore give information about the total number of granulocytes in peripheral blood within the limits measured (0.5-6.5 x 10(9) granulocytes/l).