Table 2.
Impact of delayed cytobrush processing on cervical T cell counts and viability.
| Group | Processing condition | N | CD3 countsa | p-valueb | N | Viabilityc (%) |
p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ex vivo | 97/183 | 65 416 (25 032–140 520) |
– | 33/113 | 99.95 (96.16–100) |
– |
| 2 | 24 h 37 °C | 20/27 | 38 040 (12 900–76 502) |
0.29 | 8/25 | 99 (67.5–100) |
0.57 |
| 3 | 24 h 4 °C | 5/5 | 95 280 (41 880–259 768) |
0.26 | 4/5 | 100 (81.25–100) |
0.52 |
| 4 | 24 h room temperature | 20/25 | 110 400 (34 500–272 400) |
0.07 | 6/25 | 90 (68.75–100) |
0.55 |
| 5 | Frozen/Thawed | 10/13 | 22 664 (13 968–44 672) |
0.01 | 2/6 | 92.18 (86.95–97.4) |
na |
a
CD3 counts were measured by Guava cell counting using anti-CD3 PE staining.
b
Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare Group 1 data to that in Groups 2–4 respectively. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.
c
Viability was assessed using Trypan Blue exclusion or Annexin-PI staining on a FACS Calibur flow cytometer. For Annexin-PI staining, only PI + Annexin- cells were considered dead and apoptotic cells were reported in the viable fraction.