A diagnostic system comprising means to carry out a method of characterizing a test set of biological cells, comprising: a) mapping each cell in the test set of biological cells to a corresponding point in an n-dimensional space, wherein n≥3 using a defined protocol wherein at least some of the n-dimensions are fluorescent intensity data of the cells, the corresponding points forming a test set of points; b) comparing the test set of points to a defined set of clusters of normal biological cells, i.e. a defined set of normal clusters, in the n-dimensional space, wherein each cluster in the defined set of normal clusters corresponds to a maturation level within a cell lineage, and wherein for the set of normal clusters, a reference centroid line and a radius are defined, the reference centroid line and the radius forming various cluster shapes, wherein the reference centroid line for the set of clusters is based on a set of reference points, and wherein the radius is a function of a position on the reference centroid line, wherein the reference centroid line and the radius are adjusted in an iterative manner using at least one of statistical analysis and user input wherein the adjusting includes determining a distance from an identified centroid point of each cluster and a nearest point on the reference centroid line; c) determining for each point of the test set of points based on the determined reference centroid line and radius whether it is outside the defined set of normal clusters based on the comparison; and d) characterizing the test set of biological cells based at least in part on a determination of an amount of abnormal cells in the test set of biological cells based on the determination of step c). a) mapping each cell in the test set of biological cells to a corresponding point in an n-dimensional space, wherein n≥3 using a defined protocol wherein at least some of the n-dimensions are fluorescent intensity data of the cells, the corresponding points forming a test set of points; b) comparing the test set of points to a defined set of clusters of normal biological cells, i.e. a defined set of normal clusters, in the n-dimensional space, wherein each cluster in the defined set of normal clusters corresponds to a maturation level within a cell lineage, and wherein for the set of normal clusters, a reference centroid line and a radius are defined, the reference centroid line and the radius forming various cluster shapes, wherein the reference centroid line for the set of clusters is based on a set of reference points, and wherein the radius is a function of a position on the reference centroid line, wherein the reference centroid line and the radius are adjusted in an iterative manner using at least one of statistical analysis and user input wherein the adjusting includes determining a distance from an identified centroid point of each cluster and a nearest point on the reference centroid line; c) determining for each point of the test set of points based on the determined reference centroid line and radius whether it is outside the defined set of normal clusters based on the comparison; and d) characterizing the test set of biological cells based at least in part on a determination of an amount of abnormal cells in the test set of biological cells based on the determination of step c).