MODIFICATION OF A COMMON BAL TECHNIQUE TO ENHANCE SAMPLE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE

这个子项目是众多研究子项目之一

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Background: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) via bronchoscopy is a diagnostic tool frequently used for clinical and research purposes in nonhuman primates. Although many institutions utilize this procedure, the technique is not standardized. One technical variant of the procedure is the method in which fluid is recovered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences between two different BAL aspiration techniques. Methods: Bronchoscopy and BAL fluid collection were performed on 20 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Data collected for comparison included heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, rectal temperature, volume of returned fluid, total cell count, cell viability, differential cell count, and flow cytometry. Results: Results showed no significant differences in the heart rate, SpO2 levels or body temperature between the two groups. Likewise, there were no statistical differences seen between the differential cell counts or the cell viability studies of the retrieved fluid using either method. When using the modified aspiration technique, an 8.3% increase in full fluid yield and a higher number of cells per microliter of fluid recovered were exhibited. Conclusion: The differences noted with the enhanced BAL technique are statistically significant and indicate a clinical relevance where diagnoses are concerned.