Flow cytometry: the standard for monitoring the onset of apheresis and for the evaluation of stem and progenitor cell graft quality.
Several high-quality protocols exist that describe the methodological and technical aspects of the flow cytometric analyses of stem and progenitor cells. In addition, recent advances in automation and quantitative analyses show promising results. For further improvement of the test quality and more objective control, internal as well as external quality control is mandatory. In addition, cost aspects move into the focus of interest and have to be considered. Alternative methods such as volumetric capillary cytometry or haematological analyzers are of limited use for stem and progenitor cell analyses. Currently, flow cytometry represents the gold standard for monitoring the onset of apheresis and to evaluate the quality of stem and progenitor cell grafts. In the near future, only in vitro diagnostics that are CE-labelled or FDA-approved should be used for these analyses.
Dept. of Transfusion Medicine/Transplantation Immunology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. gutensohn@uke.uni-hamburg.de
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D001781:Blood Component Removal / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019719:Diagnostic Equipment; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D011786:Quality Control; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology