Course Description

This three-day comprehensive course covers topics relevant to technologists, laboratory scientists and pathologists working in the field of clinical flow cytometry. Get hands-on practical experience, working with a team of expert faculty, with approximately 1 faculty to 5 participants. The small group design allows you to get the information you need and make connections that will serve as an ongoing resource when you return to your lab. The following topics will be covered:

1. Instrumentation:
1. Get hands-on, practical instruction using software that simulates the cytometer in your lab.
2. Learn how to optimize instrument set-up and get the same result from multiple instruments.
3. Understand compensation and identify ways to set it up properly and monitor it for accuracy.
2. Panel Design and Validation:
1. Learn how to effectively develop a new multicolor flow cytometric assay.
2. Understand the requirements for validation of a new assay.
3. Develop effective strategies for ongoing monitoring of quality.
3. Recognizing normal:
1. Understand the importance of using a “difference from normal” approach to flow cytometric data.
2. Build an effective analysis template that will highlight potential pitfalls and maximize recognition of neoplastic cells.
3. Analyze patient data from peripheral blood, bone marrow, and lymph node and become more familiar with normal cells and changes that occur in reactive conditions.
4. Chronic Lymphoid Disorders (B & T):
1. Work though real case examples of mature B-cell and T-cell neoplasms.
2. Develop an approach to interpretation that maximizes the utility of flow cytometry, while identifying when other ancillary studies are necessary.
3. Participants who are relatively new to clinical flow cytometry can focus on recognizing characteristic features of common neoplasms.
4. More experienced participants can work though more challenging cases of T-cell lymphoma.
5. Acute leukemia:
1. Work through real case examples of acute leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoblastic leukemia, and mixed lineage leukemia.
2. Understand the WHO classification of acute leukemia, including 2022 revisions.
3. More experienced participants can evaluate specimens for minimal/measurable residual lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia.
6. Troubleshooting in Clinical Flow Cytometry:
1. Recognize some of the artifacts that might lead to incorrect interpretation of flow cytometric data and learn how to overcome.