Cellular Laboratory

Flow cytometry in Primary Immunodeficiency and Leukemia

Summary

Science

Clinical

Clinical

Leukaemia is a disease of the blood or bone marrow resulting from the cancerous proliferation of cells of the immune system, caused by a mutation in a single stem cell. Patients can present with a variety of symptoms, some of the more common include bone pain, excessive bruising, anemia and uncontrolled infections. Chronic leukaemias will cause death, if untreated, in months or years however acute leukaemias will cause death, if untreated, in weeks or months. A multi-disciplinary approach, utilising flow cytometry in conjunction with clinical history, morphology, full blood count and cytogenetics to diagnose specific types of leukemia is routinely employed. Using several departments to confirm diagnosis is important because it improves the chances of providing a correct diagnosis so that the patient can receive the appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

• Science