Diagnostic Immunology and Flow Cytometry Laboratory

Director:
Ronald J. Harbeck, PhD
Phone: (303) 398-1337
E-mail: harbeckr@njc.org

This Laboratory provides a comprehensive panel of assays to measure the concentration, and determine the functional activities, of the major components of the host defense system including antibodies/immunoglobulins, neutrophils and lymphocytes. These include determining the phenotype of peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid leukocyte populations, lymphocyte responses to mitogens and antigens, natural killer cell enumeration and functional assays.

A comprehensive panel of assays is available to assess neutrophil activity including chemotaxis, oxidative metabolism, bactericidal response to microorganisms and the presence of neutrophil adhesion molecules. The wide variety of tests available makes it possible to perform complete work-ups for many immunodeficiency diseases.

The Laboratory works closely with pharmaceutical companies to develop custom immunological assays for patient monitoring during clinical trials and/or product evaluation. Custom immunoassays have been developed to examine sera for IgE and IgG antibody specific responses to both standard and special antigens and allergens as well as to monitor specific lymphocyte responses.