A monoclonal antibody micromethod for studying fetal lymphocytes: potential for prenatal diagnosis of inherited immunodeficiencies

Abstract Using monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence an easy, reliable, inexpensive micromethod for the quantitative analysis of fetal lymphocyte markers was developed. Monoclonal antibodies specific for identification of all peripheral T lymphocytes (OKT 3), the subclass of suppressor/cytotoxic T lymphocytes (OKT 8), and for B lymphocytes (OKla 1) were employed. This technique will permit in utero recognition of immunodeficiency states which alter the ratio of these cell types.