A SIMPLE METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF B-CELL CLONOSPECIFIC PROBES

A sensitive PCR-based method was developed to produce B-cell clonogeni c probes without the need for sequencing and specific oligonucleotide synthesis. Specificity and sensitivity were assessed and found to be c omparable to that achieved using established methods. Possible applica tions include the detection of MRD, bone marrow involvement with lymph oma, and the contamination of autologous bone marrow or peripheral blo od progenitor cell harvests with malignant cells carrying IgH rearrang ements.