Immunocytochemistry , like flow cytometry, uses antibodies to treat the bone marrow or biopsy samples. Yet unlike flow cytometry, computers and lasers are not needed for this procedure. Instead, the sample is prepared so that specific types of cells undergo a color change that can be identified under a microscope. Immunocytochemistry allows the pathologist to identify specific types of leukemia. Researchers have found that leukemia cells often contain genetic defects known as translocations, inversions, deletions, and additions.
Translocations are genetic errors that result when parts of two chromosomes are exchanged.
Deletions occur when part of a chromosome is missing, and additions are caused by duplications of all or part of a chromosome. The Philadelphia chromosome causes uncontrolled reproduction and proliferation of all types of white blood cells and platelets. Immunophenotyping is the classification of cell types according to their immunologic characteristics. Other useful, but less specific reagants are CD19, CD22,CD5, CD7, CD13, CD33, glycophorin, and CD61. It is likely that the physician will want to perform imaging studies to determine whether the leukemia has invaded other organs within the body.