Immunophenotyping of leukaemia: an immunoperoxidase method using air-dried smears

An immunoperoxidase (IP) method utilizing monoclonal antibodies to demonstrate the presence of the common acute lymphocytic leukaemia antigen (CALLA) on leukaemic cells using air-dried blood and bone marrow smears is described. Two readily available CALLA-specific monoclonal antibodies, BA-3 and J5, and an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase methodology were utilized. Nineteen cases of acute leukaemia or blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia were studied. Immunofluorescent studies correlated closely with the results of the immunoperoxidase technique.