Whole blood luminol-dependent chemiluminescence

Heparinized whole blood was successfully used in a luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. Neutrophils were the major contributors to chemiluminescence of whole blood. Plasma, in concentrations greater than 10%, appeared to inhibit the response. Classic oxygen radical scavengers such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and sodium azide, an inhibitor of myeloperoxidase, suppressed whole blood chemiluminescence 67, 22, and 93%, respectively. The marked inhibition with sodium azide suggested the importance of myeloperoxidase in the generation of chemiluminescence in this luminol-dependent assay. Whole blood chemiluminescence detected neutrophil defects such as chronic granulomatous disease and myeloperoxidase deficiency. This study documents the efficacy of whole blood chemiluminescence as a valuable diagnostic and investigative tool.