Cell-mediated immune response assay and kits therefor

1. A method for measuring a cell-mediated immune (CMI) response in a sample of whole blood collected from a subject to determine a capacity of the subject to mount a CMI response, comprising:

a) incubating an antigen in an incubation container with an undiluted whole blood sample from a peripheral capillary of the subject or from an artery or vein of the subject,

wherein the whole blood sample comprises immune system cells which are capable of producing immune effector molecules following stimulation by the antigen,

wherein in the incubation container the whole blood sample has a shape that has (i) a maximum circular diameter of less than 6 mm and (ii) a height of from at least 4 mm to 6 mm to a maximum height of 12 mm to 20 mm, and

wherein the whole blood sample that is incubated has a total volume that is less than 500 μl; and

b) subsequent to step (a) detecting, in the whole blood sample that has been incubated, a level of at least one immune effector molecule, or of a nucleic acid molecule capable of producing said at least one immune effector molecule, wherein the level of the at least one immune effector molecule, or of the nucleic acid molecule capable of producing said at least one immune effector molecule, is indicative of the capacity of the subject to mount a cell-mediated response.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of selecting a therapeutic protocol for treatment of a subject having symptoms of a disorder that is selected from an inflammatory disease condition, a pathogenic infection, an autoimmune disorder, immuno-incompetence, allergy and cancer, or having a propensity for developing such a disorder.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the sample of whole blood is collected (i) with a capillary sampling device, (ii) into a container containing either or both of the antigen and an anti-coagulant, or (iii) into a container to which either or both of the and an anti-coagulant are added thereafter.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the anti-coagulant is heparin.

5. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a simple sugar is present in the incubation container during the step of incubating.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the simple sugar is dextrose.

7. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the step of incubating comprises incubating for from 4 hours to 50 hours.

8. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein:

a) the total volume of the whole blood sample is less than 400 μl, less than 300 μl, less than 200 μl, less than 100 μl, or less than 50 μl, or

b) the whole blood sample is from a peripheral capillary of the subject and the total volume is about 400 μl, 300 μl, 200 μl, 100 μl, 50 μl or 40 μl or an intermediate volume therebetween.

9. The method of claim 1 or claim 2 which is selected from:

(a) a method that further comprises (i) mixing the sample of whole blood in the incubation container; (ii) centrifuging the incubation container and collecting plasma; and (iii) detecting an immune effector molecule in the plasma, and

(b) a method that further comprises (i) mixing the sample of whole blood in the incubation container; (ii) including in the incubation container during the step of incubating at least one of a control antigen and a mitogen; (iii) centrifuging the incubation container and collecting plasma; and (iv) detecting an immune effector molecule in the plasma.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the sample of whole blood is collected from the subject into a 3-4 mm diameter capillary tube.

11. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein the shape of the whole blood sample in the incubation container has a volume of less than 400 μl.