Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
Database-guided Flow-cytometry for Evaluation of Bone Marrow Myeloid Cell Maturation
Published on: November 3, 2018
Flow cytometry immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasia
Katherine R Calvo1, Catharine S McCoy, Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hematology Section, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Insights
Flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) provides crucial insights for diagnosing hematolymphoid neoplasms like leukemia and lymphoma. This chapter details specimen handling, gating, and antibody panels for effective FCI analysis of abnormal cells.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Clinical Pathology
Background:
- Flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) is essential for diagnosing hematolymphoid neoplasms.
- Accurate subclassification of leukemias, lymphomas, and myelodysplasia relies on FCI.
- Identifying aberrant immunophenotypes is key in hematologic diagnostics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a general approach for analyzing hematolymphoid populations using FCI.
- To outline strategies for identifying neoplastic cells based on immunophenotype and scatter properties.
- To guide the selection of appropriate antibody panels for FCI.
Main Methods:
- Specimen handling protocols for hematolymphoid samples.
- Gating strategies for isolating and analyzing cell populations.
- Selection and application of antibody panels for detecting abnormal hematologic populations.
Main Results:
- Demonstration of FCI's utility in identifying aberrant immunophenotypes.
- Illustration of abnormal maturation patterns and light chain restriction.
- Highlighting abnormal light scatter properties indicative of neoplastic processes.
Conclusions:
- FCI is a powerful tool for the diagnosis and subclassification of hematolymphoid disorders.
- A systematic approach to specimen handling, gating, and antibody selection enhances FCI accuracy.
- This chapter provides a foundational guide for applying FCI in clinical hematology.
Abstract:
Flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) of hematolymphoid specimens is a powerful tool in clinical medicine aiding in the accurate diagnosis and subclassification of acute and chronic leukemias, non-Hodgkin lymphomas, myelodysplasia, and other hematolymphoid neoplastic processes. Multiple flow cytometric strategies are used to evaluate hematolymphoid populations, including identification of neoplastic populations with aberrant immunophenotypes, abnormal maturation patterns, monotypic kappa/lambda light chain expression, restricted V-beta expression, and abnormal light scatter properties. In this chapter, we present a general approach to analyze hematolymphoid populations. Specimen handling, gating strategies, and appropriate antibody panels for flow cytometric detection of abnormal hematologic populations are presented.
