The following associations can be made between specific surface markers and cell types, as seen in Table 2. Please note that only the most basic associated cell types are addressed; this is an introductory flow cytometry course.
This page also includes a PDF file of this table, which can be printed to use as a reference for case studies presented later in the course.
Table 2. Associations Between Surface Markers and Cell Types. | Surface Marker | Associated Cell Type |
| CD2 | Pan T cells; natural killer cells |
| CD3 | Pan T cells |
| CD4 | T-helper cells |
| CD5 | Pan T cells and B cell abnormalities (e.g., B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and mantle cells) |
| CD7 | Pan T cells (earliest marker) |
| CD8 | T-cytotoxic cells |
CD10 Also known as common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen (CALLA) | Early T and B cells, mature follicular cells |
| CD19 | Pan B cells (earliest marker) |
| HLA-DR | B cells (also present on activated T cells) |
| CD20 | B cells |
| CD23 | B cells (present in B-CLL and not present in mantle cells) |
Kappa or Lambda light chain immunoglobulin (not antigen)
| B cells - A mature B cell should express one or the other; there should be a good mix of Kappa and Lambda across a B cell population. The normal kappa:lambda ratio is approximately 2:1. In a clonal (cancerous) population, one cell line will proliferate and that line will exhibit one of these light chains. This will indicate clonality. |
CD45 Also known as the leukocyte common antigen | Pan white blood cells (may vary in staining intensity between mature and immature white blood cells) |
*Pan = across all
