Process for discriminating and counting erythroblasts

Abstract

A method for discriminating and counting erythroblasts comprises the steps of: (i) staining leukocytes in a hematologic sample by adding a fluorescent labeled antibody capable of binding specifically with leukocytes to the hematologic sample; (ii) raising the permeability only of cell membranes of erythroblasts in the hematologic sample to a nucleotide fluorescent dye which does not permeate a cell membrane usually, the nucleotide fluorescent dye having a fluorescent spectrum capable of being distinguished from that of a fluorescent labeling compound of the fluorescent labeled antibody in step (i); (iii) staining nuclei of the erythroblasts in the hematologic sample with the nucleotide fluorescent dye; (iv) subjecting the hematologic sample to flowcytometry to detect at least two fluorescent signals from each cell; and (v) discriminating and counting the erythroblasts from difference in intensity between the at least two fluorescent signals.