The CellNetix Flow Cytometry Laboratory performs multiparameter, six-color immunophenotyping studies to detect the spectrum of hematolymphoid neoplasia. Flow cytometry is applicable to anticoagulated peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirates, tissues, or body fluids. 

Flow cytometry is useful for:

• evaluating lymphocytoses of undetermined etiology
• identifying B- and T-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders 
• blast lineage determination in acute leukemia
• identifying leukemia-associated phenotypes and aberrant myeloid antigen expression in myeloid stem cell neoplasms
• distinguishing reactive lymphocytes/lymphoid hyperplasia from malignant lymphoma (particularly helpful in needle biopsy)
• determining clonality and aberrant antigen expression on plasma cells
• providing an immunophenotypic diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

Medical indications for flow cytometry include, but are not limited to:

• cytopenia(s)
• lymphocytosis
• observation of atypical cells encountered in the evaluation of body fluids and tissues
• monoclonal gammopathy
• organomegaly
• lymphadenopathy
• various types of patient monitoring (bone marrow staging or prognostication) (Davis, 2007).

Flow cytometry panels are ordered by the attending physician or by one of the CellNetix Hematopathologists in conjunction with the clinical information and/or results of prior or concurrent laboratory studies. Frequently, decision making for ordering the most appropriate flow cytometry panel is deferred by clinicians until pathology review of the peripheral blood smear, bone marrow biopsy, histology, or fluid cytology.  The laboratory uses Becton Dickinson FACS Canto II 2 laser/6-color instrument for data acquisition and FCS Express for data analysis.

DIAGNOSTIC PANELS (Indication)

Myeloid panel (Acute leukemia, Myeloid cell neoplasm, and a screen for B-cell lymphoma)

CD2, CD5, CD7, CD10, CD11b, CD13, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD33, CD34, CD38, CD45, CD56, CD64, CD71, CD117, HLA-DR, Kappa and Lambda light chains.

Chronic panel (CLL/SLL, B-cell lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, T-cell lymphoma or leukemia, NK cell neoplasms, and a screen for myeloblasts)

CD2, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, CD10, CD11c, CD16, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD23, CD25, CD34, CD34, CD38, CD45, CD56, CD57, CD71, CD103, CD117,  HLA -DR, Kappa and Lambda light chains,     

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Add-on assays for:

Plasma cell panel (Plasma cell myeloma & MGUS)

CD19, CD20, CD38, CD45, CD56, CD138, cy- kappa and cy- lambda light chains.

Hairy cell leukemia:

CD11c, CD19, CD22, CD33, CD45, CD103 

T-cell subsets:

CD3, CD5, CD10, CD45, TCR-AB, TCR-GD  

TdT (Lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma).