A small volume technique to examine and compare alveolar macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and non typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi)

Conclusions: We describe a small volume 'one tube, dual target' technique to measure phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and NTHi. We show that alveolar macrophages phagocytose NTHi more avidly than apoptotic cells, and that an increased presence of NTHi in the airway may reduce the ability of alveolar macrophages to phagocytose apoptotic cells.