2006 Bethesda International Consensus Conference on Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping of Hematolymphoid Neoplasia

摘要

The utility of flow cytometric analysis in leukemia and lymphoma gained acceptance in the late 1980s and now it is established medical practice in the diagnosis of hematolymphoid neoplasia. Evidence that flow cytometry is useful in prognostication and monitoring response to therapy in several diseases has also accumulated. As the utility of this technology achieved widespread recognition, new flow cytometry laboratories were created to add this valuable technique to the diagnostic arsenal available. Coincident with the evolution of this new field, was a growing concern among practitioners about inconsistent practices as well as deficiencies in technique standardization and validation and its possible impact on patient care. To address this issue a group of U.S. and Canadian hematopathologists, hematologists, and laboratory scientists met in Bethesda, MD from November 16-17, 1995 to develop the U.S.-Canadian Consensus Recommendations on the Immunophenotypic Analysis of Hematologic Neoplasia by Flow Cytometry. The consensus document produced provided guidance on standardization and validation of laboratory procedures, data analysis and interpretation and data reporting. Guidelines were also provided on medical indications for testing by listing diseases in which flow cytometric analysis contributed positively to patient care. Although consensus could not be reached at that time on the number or combination of antibodies utilized in flow cytometric evaluation of leukemia or lymphoma, strategies were provided for the selection of antibodies and lists of markers useful in identification of acute leukemias and lymphoproliferative processes. In 2000 the Clinical Cytometry Society organized a second, international, conference in an attempt to further standardize antibody choice. The participants reached consensus on the optimal number of reagents required to evaluate hematolymphoid neoplasia, but the recommendations were again based on disease diagnosis.