ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Pre-analytical and analytical errors can threaten the reliability of flow cytometry (FC) results. A potential solution to some of these is the use of dry, pre-mixed antibodies, such as the ClearLLab 10C system. The purpose of the present study was to compare the diagnostic performance of the ClearLLab 10C B cell tube with that of our standard laboratory practice. METHODS: We compared the diagnoses made with the ClearLLab 10C B cell tube (experimental strategy) with those made with standard laboratory practice (standard strategy). Samples were selected aiming for representation of the full spectrum of B cell disorders, with an emphasis on mature B cell malignancies, as well as healthy controls. RESULTS: We included 116 samples (34 normal controls, 4 acute lymphoblastic leukemias, 54 mature lymphoproliferative disorders in peripheral blood and bone marrow, 3 myelomas, 6 bone marrow samples with involvement by lymphoma and 1 with elevated hematogone count, 14 lymph node samples, 1 cerebrospinal fluid, and 1 pleural effusion). There were two diagnostic errors (1.7%). The agreement between the two strategies in the percentage of CD19 cells and fluorescence intensity of CD5, CD19, CD20, CD200, and CD10 was very good. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the ClearLLab 10C B cell tube performed similarly to our standard laboratory practice to diagnose and classify mature B cell malignancies.