Response of blood and bone marrow neutrophils to the nitroblue-tetrazolium test in children.

The ability of blood and bone marrow neutrophils to reduce nitroblue-tetrazolium both before and after stimulation with Escherichia coli endotoxin was investigated. The polymorphonuclear cells of the bone marrow are less able to reduce the dye than blood cells. This difference is maintained after stimulation by endotoxin. Early forms of neutrophils (myelocytes and metamyelocytes) have some reducing ability but this is more marked after stimulation with endotoxin.