Report of proceedings of the national meeting on "Guidelines for Immunophenotyping of Hematolymphoid Neoplasms by Flow Cytometry".

BACKGROUND: Immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms is being done in many laboratories in India. The first national meeting on "Guidelines for Immunophenotyping of Hematolymphoid Neoplasms by Flow Cytometry" was held on 14 March 2008 in Mumbai, India.

AIM: To achieve uniformity in the laboratory practice regarding antibody panel selection in diagnosing hematolymphoid neoplasms.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Members of the Inter-Laboratory Comparison Program (ILCP) group in Mumbai prepared a draft regarding immunophenotypic panel selection for acute leukemias (ALs) and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (CLPDs), which was further circulated among national and international cytometrists, hematopathologists, and oncologists for their written inputs, suggestions, proposed modifications; as well as their indications, if any, of the recommendations not being acceptable. Practice-based questionnaire was circulated among all the participants.

RESULTS: Consensus was attained, and the panel recommended the use of a minimal screening panel, followed by a secondary directed panel. The aim of the minimal screening panel would be to provide a diagnosis of all commonly occurring hematolymphoid neoplasms without the need of additional antibodies in most cases.

CONCLUSION: Thus we could attain a consensus for our guidelines in selecting panels for ALs and CLPDs. The guideline is an attempt to formulate a minimal panel for immunophenotyping of hematolymphoid neoplasms. Laboratories are encouraged to add additional antibodies to the above panel to increase the sensitivity; however, they should refrain from immunophenotyping with fewer antibodies. This national guideline hopefully brings about uniformity and comparability in reporting of leukemia and lymphoma and bridges the divide between low-cost reporting and an accurate diagnosis.