Utilization of cytocentrifugation slides in flow cytometry laboratory: a tool for correlation of morphology and immunonophenotype

Cytocentrifuge slide (“cytospin”) is a simple and rapid technique that is mainly used in the cytology laboratory. We have routinely used the technique in flow cytometry (FCM) laboratory at Montefiore Medical Center for more than 15 years. Our aim is to illustrate the contribution of cytospin in direct cellular morphologic visualization in FCM immunophenotyping, in result interpretation, and additionally as a quality control tool. Four thousand two hundred forty-eight cases sent to our FCM Laboratory in the past 21 months were studied retrospectively. The clinical history, cytospins, immunophenotyping panels, FCM contour plots, final FCM reports, and pathology reports were reviewed. Morphologic examination of the cytospin is a cost-effective tool for sample quality screening. Of the 4248 immunophenotyping cases, 359 (8.4%) cases were canceled, according to laboratory protocol based on cytospin review. Morphologic analysis of the cytospin provides extra information that guides both selection of the FCM immunophenotype panel and gating the cells of interest. Additionally, morphologic analysis of cytospin can yield early diagnosis when cohesive benign or malignant non-hematologic cells are present or even infectious organisms such as parasites are identified. Finally, the cytospin is a convenient tool for morphology-phenotype correlation. Cytospin is cost-effective and provides important morphologic information that facilitates FCM immunophenotyping panel selection and result interpretation.