Cellular Laboratory

Flow cytometry in Primary Immunodeficiency and Leukemia

Summary

Science

Clinical

Background

Flow cytometry in the cellular laboratory is largely divided into two areas; primary immunodeficiency and leukaemia diagnosis. For the purposes of diagnosing immunodeficiency, blood cells are checked for the presence of intact surface receptors that mediate effective immune responses. Flow cytometry allows scientists to label specific surface receptors on different populations of blood cells so that this functionality can be investigated. In leukemia a mutation in genetic expression leads to the uncontrolled proliferation of a single lineage of immune system cells. Flow cytometry enables scientists to establish what particular type of leukaemia a patient has by checking their blood cells for different sets of surface molecules that typify different leukemias. It is important to characterise different leukemias because the type can have a significant affect on patient prognosis and treatment.

• Science