WPC channel
The WPC channel was designed to further classify samples initially flagged positive for ‘Blasts/Abn Lympho?’ by the XN-DIFF channel.
The reagent reaction caused by the explicit reagents for the WPC channel depends specifically on the composition of the membrane lipids. Mature white blood cells have a membrane lipid composition different to immature or reactive cells, so they are affected to a greater extent, leaving the cells in a less native stage. This makes the membrane more permeable for the proprietary fluorescence marker that labels the cells in the second stage of the reaction. The signals corre¬sponding to cell volume and fluorescence are therefore directly related to the functionality of the cells.
Due to their membrane lipid composition, blasts are not permeated very strongly by the lysis reagent. Consequently, they show relatively low fluorescence signals and high signals for cell volume because they remain mostly intact. Neoplastic lymphocytes on the other hand are more mature and their membranes are more readily permeated, causing higher fluorescence signals and smaller volume signals due to cell shrinking. These differences allow a reliable identification of such malignant cells.
The added value of the WPC channel
WPC analysis excludes malignant conditions with great specificity. It minimises the number of false-positive suspected malignant samples from the XN-DIFF. This streamlines and accelerates the diagnostic pathway as it reduces the need to perform time-consuming and expensive follow-up tests that are required when a malignant condition is suspected.
The combination of XN-DIFF and WPC delivers maximum differentiation between malignant and reactive samples and deeper insight into the immune response status once malignant conditions have been excluded. The Extended Inflammation Parameters can be used with confidence.
Optionally, the WPC channel can be used to quantify haematopoietic progenitor cells.
