Freezing Human Peripheral Lymphocytes and a Technique for Culture in Monolayers

A successful, relatively inexpensive method is described for freezing peripheral lymphocytes. These lymphocytes when thawed and grown in the presence of antigens transformed at approximately the same rate as unfrozen control cultures from the same individuals. A method is also described for successfully culturing lymphocytes which adhere to the surfaces of cover slips or petri plates previously treated with 0.5% gelatin. Rates of lymphocyte transformation in these cultures were similar to those encountered in culture tubes.