Immunophenotyping is a laboratory method designed to identify cells based on the antigens present on these cells. In many cases, antibodies are used to help detect which antigens are present on cells.
Flow cytometry is an immunophenotypic analysis. In suspected cases of CML, flow cytometry is used to analyze the leukemic cells. It is not necessary in the chronic phase but very valuable in the blastic phase. The blasts may express myeloid antigens, lymphoid antigens, or mixed myeloid and lymphoid activity based on the lineages.
It is vital to identify the exact lineage of the blasts. Patients with myeloid blasts are treated with different chemotherapeutic agents than patients with lymphoid blasts. Treating patients with mixed phenotypes requires a mixed regimen.
