Purification of lymphocytes and platelets by gradient centrifugation.

Abstract A two-step centrifugation technique is described in which 80 to 90 per cent of the total lymphocyte population of human and animal blood can be obtained free of erythrocytes, granulocytes, and platelets. Uncontaminated platelet populations were similarly obtained. The procedure was scaled sufficiently to allow the purification of large numbers of functionally viable cells in a relatively short period of time. The procedure was applied to purification of splenic lymphocytes, and pure lymphocyte populations were obtained with the selective exclusion of nonviable cells.