IMMUNOPHENOTYPING OF LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA-CELLS WITH IGSS - COMPARISON WITH APAAP AND FLOW-CYTOMETRY

Leukemia and lymphoma cells were immunophenotyped with immunogold-silv er staining, the alkaline phosphatase-antialkaline phosphatase method, and flow cytometry and the results were compared. Peripheral blood, b one marrow aspirates, and lymph node cell suspensions of 26 patients w ith acute or chronic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's dis ease were examined. Thirty-five monoclonal antibodies directed against cell surface antigens of myeloid and lymphoid cells were used. In add ition, the efficiency of the 3 methods was determined by establishing monoclonal antibody dilution curves on normal peripheral blood cells. In each patient, the 3 immunocytochemical techniques gave an identical immunodiagnosis. Good correlation coefficients (0.91 to 0.93) were fo und among the percents of positive cells obtained with the 3 technique s. Flow cytometry had the highest labeling efficiency. Some monoclonal antibodies of IgM class gave a less reliable immunostaining with APAA P than with IGSS or flow cytometry. Flow cytometry is recommended for immunophenotyping homogeneous cell suspensions. With poor samples or m ixed cell suspensions, labeling on cytocentrifuge preparations with IG SS is preferred for its good morphology and stable immunostaining.