Immunophenotyping

As outlined in the IMWG criteria, for a diagnosis of myeloma to be made patients must have >10% plasma cells in their bone marrow. These plasma cells produce abnormal levels of a number of different cell surface CD antigen markers that can be measured via either flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry on trephine biopsy sections. This plasma cell phenotyping gives important information on possible genetic causes, prognosis and can also be used to detect minimal residual disease.