Nitroblue tetrazolium test is used for
Ref, Harrison pg 76 In immunohistochemistry the alkaline phosphatase is often used as a marker, conjugated to an antibody. The colored product can either be of the NBT/BCIP reaction reveals where the antibody is bound, or can be used in immunofluorescence. The NBT/BCIP reaction is also used for colorimetric/spectrophotometric activity assays of oxidoreductases. One application is in activity stainsin gel electrophoresis, such as with the mitochondrial electron transpo chain complexes. Nitro blue tetrazolium is used in a diagnostic test,paicularly for chronic granulomatous disease and other diseases of phagocyte function. When there is an NADPH oxidase defect, the phagocyte is unable to make reactive oxygen species or radicals required for bacterial killing. As a result, bacteria may thrive within the phagocyte. The higher the blue score, the better the cell is at producing reactive oxygen species.
Phagocytes
Complement
T cell
B cell
General anatomy