Microscopic view of glowing NETs in blood sample.

Unlocking NETs: A Revolutionary Blood Test to Detect Hidden Inflammation

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how a new high-throughput blood test is changing the game in detecting neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and offering hope for autoimmune disease management."

In the ongoing battle against disease, detecting the enemy early is half the victory. Imagine if doctors could spot hidden signs of inflammation lurking within your body, signs that could signal the onset of autoimmune diseases or other serious health issues. This is the promise of a revolutionary new blood test focusing on neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs.

Neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cell, are your body’s first line of defense against infection. When activated, these cells can release NETs—web-like structures composed of DNA and antimicrobial proteins—to trap and kill pathogens. But sometimes, this process goes awry, and NETs contribute to inflammation and tissue damage, particularly in autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Traditionally, detecting NETs has been a cumbersome process, relying on methods like fluorescence microscopy, which are subjective, time-consuming, and provide limited data. But now, a team of researchers has developed a high-throughput flow cytometry-based assay that promises to change the game in NET detection, offering a faster, more accurate, and observer-independent way to spot these hidden signs of inflammation.

What Are NETs and Why Should You Care?

Microscopic view of glowing NETs in blood sample.

NETs, or neutrophil extracellular traps, are essentially webs of DNA and proteins that neutrophils expel to capture and neutralize pathogens. Think of them as sticky nets that trap bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, in certain conditions, the release of NETs can become overactive or improperly regulated, leading to chronic inflammation and damage to healthy tissues. This is where NETs become implicated in a variety of diseases.

NETs have been linked to several autoimmune diseases, including:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Defective NET degradation is associated with increased risk of lupus nephritis.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: NETs contribute to joint inflammation and damage.
Vasculitis: NETs can damage blood vessel walls, leading to inflammation.
Other Autoimmune Conditions: Emerging research suggests NETs may play a role in other autoimmune diseases.

Beyond autoimmune diseases, NETs have also been implicated in other conditions, such as thrombosis (blood clot formation), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even cancer. Early detection of NETs could provide crucial insights into disease progression and potential treatment strategies.

The Future of NET Detection: A New Era in Diagnostics?

The development of this high-throughput flow cytometry assay marks a significant step forward in our ability to detect and quantify NETs. By providing a rapid, accurate, and observer-independent method for NET detection, this new assay has the potential to transform diagnostic and treatment strategies for a wide range of diseases. As research continues to uncover the intricate roles of NETs in health and disease, this innovative blood test could unlock new avenues for personalized medicine, enabling healthcare professionals to tailor treatments to target NET-related inflammation and improve patient outcomes.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1002/cyto.a.23672, Alternate LINK

Title: A Flow Cytometry‐Based Assay For High‐Throughput Detection And Quantification Of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps In Mixed Cell Populations

Subject: Cell Biology

Journal: Cytometry Part A

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Olga Zharkova, Sen Hee Tay, Hui Yin Lee, Tripathi Shubhita, Wei Yee Ong, Aisha Lateef, Paul Anthony Macary, Lina Hsiu Kim Lim, John Edward Connolly, Anna‐Marie Fairhurst

Published: 2018-12-14

Everything You Need To Know

What are NETs and how do they relate to autoimmune diseases?

NETs, or neutrophil extracellular traps, are web-like structures composed of DNA and antimicrobial proteins released by neutrophils to trap and kill pathogens. In the context of autoimmune diseases, NETs can contribute to inflammation and tissue damage. For example, in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), defective NET degradation is associated with an increased risk of lupus nephritis. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, NETs contribute to joint inflammation, and in Vasculitis, they can damage blood vessel walls. Therefore, understanding and detecting NETs is crucial for managing these conditions.

How does the new flow cytometry-based assay improve NET detection compared to traditional methods?

The new flow cytometry-based assay offers significant advantages over traditional methods like fluorescence microscopy for detecting NETs. Traditional methods are often subjective, time-consuming, and provide limited data. The flow cytometry-based assay is high-throughput, meaning it can analyze a large number of samples quickly. It is also more accurate and observer-independent, reducing the variability and potential errors associated with manual analysis. This results in faster, more reliable detection of NETs, which can transform diagnostic and treatment strategies.

Besides autoimmune diseases, what other conditions are NETs implicated in?

NETs have been linked to several conditions beyond autoimmune diseases. They are implicated in thrombosis (blood clot formation), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and even cancer. The presence and activity of NETs can provide crucial insights into the progression of these diseases and potential treatment strategies. Early detection of NETs in these conditions could significantly impact patient outcomes.

What is the role of neutrophils in the context of NETs and inflammation?

Neutrophils, the most abundant type of white blood cell, are the primary cells involved in forming NETs. When activated, neutrophils release NETs—web-like structures of DNA and antimicrobial proteins—to trap and kill pathogens. However, in some cases, this process can go awry, leading to excessive or poorly regulated NET formation. This can then contribute to chronic inflammation and damage healthy tissues, particularly in autoimmune diseases like lupus, where NETs are known to play a significant role in disease progression.

How could the new NET detection assay impact future medical treatments and patient outcomes?

The development of a high-throughput flow cytometry-based assay for NET detection has the potential to revolutionize medical treatments and significantly improve patient outcomes. This new assay provides a rapid, accurate, and observer-independent method for detecting NETs, which can be crucial for early diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases. By enabling healthcare professionals to better understand the role of NETs in disease progression, this assay could pave the way for personalized medicine approaches. Treatments can be tailored to target NET-related inflammation, potentially improving outcomes for patients suffering from autoimmune diseases, thrombosis, ARDS, and other conditions where NETs play a role.