On October 16, 1996, the first Latin American Consensus Conference for the Immunophenotyping of Leukemia took place in Puebla, Mexico, with representatives from 10 countries of the region and two external consultants. This document summarizes the major conclusions far which scientific consensus was achieved. The purpose of disseminating these guidelines to the international community is based on the potential interest for other countries with similar social conditions and economical restrictions. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.