To quantitatively analyze apoptotic and secondary necrotic cells unde r apoptosis conditions. Methods. The cells of Burkitt lymphoma （BL） cell line Raji were incubated with 1 .0 μmol/L dexamethasone （DEX） for 2

4 and 8 h respectively

then stained with Annexin V FITC （fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated） which was used to detec t the exposed phosphatidylserine （PS） on the epimembrane resulting from a loss o f phospholipid asymmetry in the early stage of apoptosis

and also stained with propidium iodide （PI） which allows analysis of secondary necrotic cells related with cell membrane and DNA damage that probably represent late stage of apoptosi s

then apoptotic cells were quantified by flow cytometry （FCM）. Furthermore

An nexin+/PI and Annexin+/PI+ cells were sorted by fluoresence activated cell sorter （FACS）

and identified by electron microscopy （EM） and DNA gel electroph oresis. Results. The percentage of apoptotic cells was found to increase with the incuba tion time （r=0.97）. This method was sensitive with low detection limit （0.02%）

and was reproducible with low coefficient variance （CV）（4.2%）. Meanwhile

the Annexin+/PI and Annexin+/PI+ cells were identified as apoptotic and necroti c cells under EM

and DNA extracted from the Annexin+/PI cells was characteri zed by “ladder pattern”. Conclusions. Annexin V assay is a specific

sensitive

accurate

reproductive and quantitative method for analyzing apoptotic cells.