Second smear, waiting for flow cytometry results

[travisgf87]

Hello,

My hematologist ordered another smear for me with reflex to flow cytometry. Results just came back and state:

Peripheral blood: Persistent absolute lymphocytosis with occasional atypia; pending further evaluation with flow cytometry.

While I am waiting for the flow results what does the term "occasional atypia" refer to?

Thanks!

[travisgf87]

Also I noticed my WBC dropped to 11.8 but unfortunately I haven't seen any differential results at least so far indicating lymphocyte number.

[Zweistein]

Atypical lymphocytes have an appearance that does not fit into the normal categories. They can be reactive or neoplastic.

[SofiaDeo]

"Occasional atypia" mean "only a few cells that don't look perfectly normal under the microscope as we look around a slide at the various cells on it."

[BigfootT]

Remember...you don't have CLL until FLOW says you do. Stay positive.

[Spark_Plug]

I wouldn't rely solely on smear tests, as my cells walls sometimes are fragile and are detected and other times are not present. I'm with BigfootT on this go with the Flow test.