2006 Bethesda International Consensus recommendations on the immunophenotypic analysis of hematolymphoid neoplasia by flow cytometry: Optimal reagents and reporting for the flow cytometric diagnosis of hematopoietic neoplasia

TLDR

Flow cytometry immunophenotyping is standard for evaluating hematopoietic neoplasia, yet reagent and reporting variability remain widespread. The 2006 Bethesda Consensus aimed to establish a universally applicable reagent set for diagnosing and monitoring hematopoietic neoplasms. A multidisciplinary committee surveyed participants to identify cell lineages for each indication and defined consensus reagents and reporting elements for leukemia and lymphoma evaluation. The conference successfully produced the first consensus reagent panel for initial assessment of hematopoietic neoplasia. © 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society.

Abstract

Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry has become standard practice in the evaluation and monitoring of patients with hematopoietic neoplasia. However, despite its widespread use, considerable variability continues to exist in the reagents used for evaluation and the format in which results are reported. As part of the 2006 Bethesda Consensus conference, a committee was formed to attempt to define a consensus set of reagents suitable for general use in the diagnosis and monitoring of hematopoietic neoplasms. The committee included laboratory professionals from private, public, and university hospitals as well as large reference laboratories that routinely operate clinical flow cytometry laboratories with an emphasis on lymphoma and leukemia immunophenotyping. A survey of participants successfully identified the cell lineage(s) to be evaluated for each of a variety of specific medical indications and defined a set of consensus reagents suitable for the initial evaluation of each cell lineage. Elements to be included in the reporting of clinical flow cytometric results for leukemia and lymphoma evaluation were also refined and are comprehensively listed. The 2006 Bethesda Consensus conference represents the first successful attempt to define a set of consensus reagents suitable for the initial evaluation of hematopoietic neoplasia. © 2007 Clinical Cytometry Society