Indications for a cost-saving policy in routine flow cytometry.
Flow cytometry has known a growing popularity in last decade as an intriguing research and diagnostic tool, favoured by the availability of newly developed monoclonal antibodies directed against cell surface antigens. Unfortunately, equipment and reagents costs are still prohibitive, and it does not allow a more widespread use of this technology. We realised that most producers suggest to add the same amount of reagents irrespective of the real number of target cells, and this is particularly true if the lysed whole blood technique is used. We investigated if an "individualized" concentration of reagents, based on the real number of MNC to be stained, could have allowed us to achieve qualitative satisfactory results with a concomitant reduction in costs. We studied four groups of individuals: 259 healthy subjects (239 blood donors and 20 volunteers) and 10 HIV+ patients. Our results suggest that lower amounts of reagents could be used, at least in some routinary cytometric analysis, simply following providers instructions (i.e. 1 microL of monoclonal antibody/1 x 10(5) MNC).
Malacrida
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Laboratorio analisi, Azienda Ospedaliera E. Morelli, Sondalo, SO, Italy.
Perseghin
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P
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003363:Cost Control; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011050:Policy Making