Basophil or IgE-Bearing Lymphocyte?

To the Editor: In an increasing number of experimental protocols, including at least three published in the Journal,^{1 2 3} investigators have used a specific, fluorescein-conjugated, anti-immunoglobulin to enumerate lymphocytes bearing IgE. Studies on various diseases, including chronic lymphatic leukemia,^1,2,4 lepromatous leprosy,³ infantile, X-linked agammaglobulinemia⁵ and eczema,⁶ have generally found IgE on 0 to 5 per cent of all peripheral lymphocytes in patients as well as controls. Unless, however, a method was available for distinguishing basophils from lymphocytes after fluorescein staining, this count could be falsely high. None of these studies allude to this possible pitfall. Although all the authors do. No extract is available for articles shorter than 400 words.