CD35 and CD64 of Neutrophils Can Differentiate Between Bacterial and Viral Infections in Children by Simultaneous Quantitative Analysis

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the expression of CD35 and CD64 from white blood cells (neutrophil, monocytes, and lymphocytes) and acute infectious diseases in children. MATERIAL/METHODS: The blood samples were collected from 104 children with infections (42 viral infections and 62 bacterial infections). Blood samples were stained with CD45-PC5, CD35-FITC, and CD64-PE, and the fluorescence intensities were measured by flow cytometer, and then the ratio of CD35 to CD64 was calculated. RESULTS: The ratio of CD64/CD35 on neutrophils (NCD35/NCD64) was significantly different between the bacterial group, the virus group, and the healthy control group. According to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, a cutoff value of 7.256 (sensitivity: 90.0%, specificity: 93.7%) was determined for the NCD35/NCD64 ratio. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that NCD35/NCD64 is helpful in the differential diagnosis of acute viral infection and bacterial infection in children.