Fig. 6

Storage stability of blood samples in the WB method. a–c Blood samples collected into heparin-containing blood collection tubes from 20 patients with lung cancer patients were measured by the WB method a day after blood collection and compared with the values measured in the same manner within 4 h after blood collection. Regression lines and correlation coefficients were calculated for %Teff (a), %Treg (b), and K-index (c). Twenty-two samples collected from healthy individuals were measured using the WB method a day after blood collection and compared with the values measured in the same manner within 4 h after blood collection. The gray line represents the regression line, the light gray line represents the 95% confidence interval, and the dotted line represents the 95% prediction interval. WB, whole blood; Teff, effector T cells; Treg, regulatory T cells