What might a flow cytometry scattergram showing a dense population of cells between normal lymphoid and myeloid cells indicate?

What might a flow cytometry scattergram showing a dense population of cells between normal lymphoid and myeloid cells indicate?

• A. The sample was improperly collected
• B. An abnormal cell population is present
• C. The laser optics are out of alignment
• D. The cells are most likely not leukocytes

Answer: (B)

A flow cytometry scattergram is a graphical representation of cells plotted based on their size and granularity, allowing for the identification and characterization of different cell populations. A dense population of cells appearing between the normal lymphoid and myeloid cells suggests that these cells have characteristics distinct from the normal populations of lymphocytes and myeloid cells. This dense population likely represents an abnormal cell population, such as a leukemic or other neoplastic process. It indicates that there is a significant cluster of cells that do not fit the expected profiles of normal cells and may require further investigation for potential pathologies. Identifying such populations is crucial in hematology for diagnosing conditions like leukemia or other blood disorders, which often show abnormal cell distributions. Other choices do not adequately explain the observation. For instance, improper collection typically results in altered cell viability or contamination but would not specifically lead to a dense population appearing in the scattergram. Similarly, issues with laser optics would likely produce inconsistent or unreliable data rather than specifically clustering cells. Lastly, stating that the cells are most likely not leukocytes does not account for the fact that these cells are indeed actively being analyzed as a part of the leukocyte population based on the context of the assay. In summary, the presence of

A flow cytometry scattergram is a graphical representation of cells plotted based on their size and granularity, allowing for the identification and characterization of different cell populations. A dense population of cells appearing between the normal lymphoid and myeloid cells suggests that these cells have characteristics distinct from the normal populations of lymphocytes and myeloid cells.

This dense population likely represents an abnormal cell population, such as a leukemic or other neoplastic process. It indicates that there is a significant cluster of cells that do not fit the expected profiles of normal cells and may require further investigation for potential pathologies. Identifying such populations is crucial in hematology for diagnosing conditions like leukemia or other blood disorders, which often show abnormal cell distributions.

Other choices do not adequately explain the observation. For instance, improper collection typically results in altered cell viability or contamination but would not specifically lead to a dense population appearing in the scattergram. Similarly, issues with laser optics would likely produce inconsistent or unreliable data rather than specifically clustering cells. Lastly, stating that the cells are most likely not leukocytes does not account for the fact that these cells are indeed actively being analyzed as a part of the leukocyte population based on the context of the assay.

In summary, the presence of