title: Diagnosis of plasma cell leukaemia: findings of the UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping scheme.
abstract: The diagnosis of plasma cell leukaemia, a rare disorder with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis, is not always straightforward and may be dependent on the results of immunophenotyping. Samples from two cases of plasma cell leukaemia have been issued by the UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping Scheme during the last 5 years and on each occasion a significant number of laboratories failed to make the correct diagnosis. The details of the two samples issued and the results of both surveys are presented. The data highlights the need to adhere to guidelines for immunophenotyping, with respect to using the correct antibody panels, the importance of data interpretation in conjunction with morphological appearance as well as the need to participate in external quality assurance schemes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Veen
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Whitby
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goodfellow
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barnett
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping / Q000379:methods*; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface