Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ( All ) Panel - By Flow Cytometry

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells in the bone marrow. It is one of the most common types of blood cancer among children, which usually affects kids between 3 and 5 years of age. However, adults can be affected too. This condition occurs due to the alterations in immature lymphoid cells from either B or T lineage. 

Initial tests include a complete blood count to check the number of blood cells. The staging or advancement of the disease is easy to confirm by looking at the number of white blood cells. If the numbers are considerably high, then immediate steps are necessary to further testing.

Other tests include a coagulation profile that identifies the abnormalities related to blood clotting. One of the significant causes of death in ALL patients is thrombosis and bleeding. Hence, this test allows the specialist to understand the complications in the blood clotting process.

The primary test for acute lymphoblastic leukemia involves a morphological bone marrow assessment. The sample undergoes a flow cytometry assay which indicates the morphological and molecular features of the cells. 

These samples also help in immunophenotyping and carrying out cytogenetics studies. The main objective of an acute lymphoblastic leukemia test is to identify the stage of the disease, determine the treatment, and rule out other complications. 

Who Should Get Tested? 

If your blood sample contains a high number of abnormal white blood cells, it could be an indication of acute leukaemia.

An enlarged lymph node is one of the primary signs of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Some other common symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, fever, frequent infection, and red spots on the skin. If you experience these symptoms, you must undergo the acute lymphoblastic leukemia test. 
 

Medically reviewed by Dr. Praveen Kumar Garg, Surgical oncologist from Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha, South Delhi.