Considerations of Flow Cytometric Lymphocyte Subset Analysis in Korea Based on a Survey of Current Clinical Laboratory Practice.

Abstract

Flow cytometric lymphocyte subset analysis (FCLSA) is essential for assessing immune status across various diseases and clinical settings. We surveyed current clinical laboratory practices related to FCLSA to establish a baseline reference for future standardization in Korea. Nine university hospitals actively performing FCLSA responded to the 22-question survey, which covered seven categories of laboratory practice. These hospitals used commercial reagent antibody kits from either Beckton Dickinson Biosciences (N=4) or Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (N=5). Most hospitals performed daily instrument setup and scheduled maintenance every 2-6 months. Two levels of commercial quality control materials were routinely used each day. Sample and reagent antibody volumes varied across hospitals, even when the same reagent kit was used. Acquired cell counts ranged from 5×10³ to 5×10⁴ cells, with two hospitals adjusting counts based on the cell type analyzed. Most laboratories reported percentages and general opinions; some additionally reported white blood cell and lymphocyte counts, along with lymphocyte percentages. This is the first comprehensive survey on the clinical laboratory practice of FCLSA in Korea. Standardization of FCLSA should be accelerated to ensure reliable and reproducible results.