Cell analysis for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplantation

Cytometric analysis has become an important aspect in the quality control of cells in all phases of hematopoietic cell transplantation. In the stage of donor conditioning the counting of stem and progenitor cells is important and several reliable single platform tests for CD34+ cells have become available recently. It has been shown, that the count of certain subsets of CD34 may predict best time for harvesting stem cells better than just CD34. In many cases manipulation of the cell sample after collection from the donor is necessary before the cells are adequate for transplantation. Characterization of the resulting cell preparations requires reliable quantitative analysis of a variety of cell types like the enumeration of T-cells at the level of one in ten thousand for some allogeneic transplantations. It is discussed how these clinical requirements will need a refinement of cytometric procedures to achieve adequate clinical decisions. Cytometry (Comm. Clin. Cytometry) 38: 47-52, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.