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PhenoPath announces new Division of Flow CytometryPhenoPath Laboratories is proud to announce a new Division of Flow Cytometry, which is now accepting fresh peripheral blood, bone marrow, body fluid, and tissue specimens for flow cytometric evaluation. This service can diagnose the full range of hematolymphoid neoplasms identifiable by flow cytometry, including acute and chronic leukemias of both lymphoid and myeloid types, non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and plasma cell neoplasms. The service can also identify a subset of non-hematopoietic tumors (e.g., small cell carcinoma). The centerpiece of the PhenoPath flow cytometry service is a state-of-the-art Becton-Dickinson LSR II flow cytometer. This instrument contains three lasers and nine fluorescence detectors, and evaluates up to nine antigens and two light scatter parameters simultaneously. The ability to evaluate a large number of cellular parameters enables more efficient analysis of specimens than conventional three- or four-color clinical flow cytometry, as less than half the number of tubes of cells and antibodies have to be prepared to evaluate a given number of antigens. This efficiency will be of particular benefit when only a small amount of material is available, and will shorten case turnaround time. Key antigens evaluated in each of the diagnostic flow cytometric assays offered by PhenoPath are shown in Table 1 on page 2. Most of these panels are based on 8- or 9-color analysis, although some of the limited studies (e.g., to help distinguish CLL/SLL from mantle cell lymphoma) are based on lesser numbers of antibodies. All of these assays have been carefully validated. Importantly, in all cases in which a malignant cell population is identified, a PhenoPath physician will notify the referring physician of the results by telephone at the time the diagnosis is finalized. Flow cytometry reports are faxed at the time the diagnosis is finalized, and include flow cytometric histograms (“dot-plots”) showing the relevant histograms (see figure above for an example from a case of CLL/SLL). Having these histograms readily available enables easy identification of the neoplastic phenotype for the purpose of following the patient’s disease in subsequent specimens. Send fresh specimens for flow cytometric evaluation to us in boxes specifically designed by PhenoPath for this purpose. The boxes contain capped plastic tubes with an adequate amount of tissue culture media to maximize the integrity of tissue and cerebrospinal fluid specimens. Peripheral blood and/or bone marrow sent for flow cytometric evaluation should be anti-coagulated in sodium heparin or EDTA. Body fluids and fine needle aspirates need be anti-coagulated only if they are particularly blood-contaminated. While specimens will optimally be received within 24 hours of their procurement, the Flow Cytometry Service does not set rigid viability requirements, and will seek to derive valid flow cytometric data from all specimens received. Call PhenoPath for specific details regarding specimen transport. Prepaid airbills for overnight shipping, requisitions, and all necessary shipping supplies provided upon request (888-92-PHENO).
Flow Cytometry StaffSteven J. Kussick, M.D., Ph.D.
Director of Flow CytometryDr. Kussick arrived at PhenoPath Laboratories after nearly 7 years as an attending hematopathologist and the Associate Director of Hematopathology in the Univ. of Washington Dept. of Laboratory Medicine. In addition to extensive experience in the use of morphologic, immunophenotypic, and molecular methods in the diagnosis of hematolymphoid neoplasms, Dr. Kussick has a broad research background, with over 25 peer-reviewed research publications in flow cytometry, hematopathology, basic cancer biology, and chronic disease epidemiology. Dr. Kussick is board-certified in both Anatomic Pathology and Hematopathology. He received his MD and PhD from the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of Washington, where he did his PhD studies in the laboratory of Dr. Jonathan Cooper at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Dr. Kussick subsequently completed both anatomic pathology residency training and hematopathology fellowship training at the University of Washington. Dr. Kussick lives in Seattle with his wife and two children. Todd S. Barry, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Director of Flow Cytometry and Director of Molecular PathologyDr. Barry has been with PhenoPath since 2002 and has substantial experience in leukemia and lymphoid immunophenotyping. Under his direction, we have continued to expand the range of molecular diagnostic services offered at PhenoPath. In addition to performing the full range of special stains required in bone marrow pathology (Wright-Giemsa, iron, reticulin, acid-fast bacilli, and fungal stains), the Bone Marrow Service will have at its disposal the full range of immunohistochemical assays, and flow cytometric, FISH, and molecular tests performed at PhenoPath. Note that the Bone Marrow Service will integrate all available clinical, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic, and molecular information in making the final diagnosis. When sending material for review by the Bone Marrow Pathology Service, please enclose all relevant peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate smears, and bone marrow biopsy and/or clot sections, including any special stains. Unstained smears or biopsy/clot sections may also be sent, as may the paraffin blocks of bone marrow biopsies and/or clots. Data from ancillary techniques performed elsewhere (flow cytometry, FISH, cytogenetics) are also of great help. Donna Ceniza, MT (ASCP)
Lead Flow Cytometry TechnologistDonna Ceniza is a certified medical technologist who arrived at PhenoPath Laboratories with over 15 years of clinical flow cytometry experience and over 20 years of experience in clinical hematology and hematopathology. She was the lead technologist in the University of Washington’s hematopathology laboratory from 1988-2000, during which time she supervised both immunoperoxidase studies on frozen tissue, and flow cytometric immunophenotyping of blood, bone marrow, and lymph node specimens. Donna played a lead role in the introduction of the flow cytometry service at the University of Washington, and expanded her expertise in flow cytometry in parallel with the general expansion of the field. She is proficient in standard four-color immunophenotyping, as well as the nine-color immunophenotyping we perform at PhenoPath Laboratories. Donna received her medical technologist training at the University of Washington. Donna lives in Mountlake Terrace with her husband. Barbara Oppenlander, MT (ASCP)
Senior Flow Cytometry TechnologistBarbara Oppenlander is a certified medical technologist who brings over 20 years of laboratory experience to PhenoPath Laboratories. For approximately 13 years she was actively involved in flow cytometric immunophenotyping, developing particular expertise in the analysis of myeloid stem cell populations. She also has a background in cell sorting and experience doing up to six-color analysis on sophisticated cell sorters. Barbara received her medical technology training in a joint program at Oregon Health Sciences University and Pacific University and has published multiple papers about stem cell immunophenotyping. Barbara lives in Bellevue.
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