Blood collection technique, anticoagulants and storing temperature have minor effects on the isolation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils

In the isolation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) the technique and other external factors can have great influence on the quality and quantity of isolated neutrophils. To elucidate the influence of the blood collection technique, anticoagulants and storing temperature on isolated PMNs healthy volunteers provided blood samples with different needles and collection techniques, anticoagulants (EDTA, heparin, citrate) and storing temperatures (4, 22, 37 °C). From each blood sample PMNs were isolated and compared regarding number of PMNs and oxidative burst. The blood collection technique, anticoagulants and storing temperature had minor impact on isolated PMNs. All three tested cannulas and anticoagulants can be used to obtain blood samples for PMN isolation. For storing temperatures 37 °C should be preferred. Regarding time between the PMN isolation and the actual experiments, a time span of maximum 1 h should be targeted.