How Can I Get Flow Cytometry Testing in Gaithersburg, MD?

Flow cytometry is a sophisticated laboratory method that analyzes the physical and chemical characteristics. This technology allows the Amerimmune team to gain rapid, quantitative, and highly detailed information about each individual cell in your blood, bone marrow, or tissue samples.

How Does Flow Cytometry Compare to Other Diagnostic Methods?

Biopsy: While a biopsy involves removing and examining a piece of tissue under a microscope to look at the structure of cells in their natural environment, flow cytometry focuses on individual cells in fluid samples. This means we can quickly and precisely identify abnormal immune cells or blood cells without needing invasive tissue sampling.

Imaging (X-rays, CT scans, MRI): Imaging gives us a big-picture view of organs and tissues, helping to locate tumors or structural abnormalities. However, these scans cannot tell us about the behavior or identity of specific cells. Flow cytometry, on the other hand, lets us analyze the types and proportions of immune cells present in your sample, which is particularly important for diagnosing immune disorders and blood cancers.

Standard Blood Work (CBC): While a complete blood count measures the number of different blood cell types, it doesn’t provide details about the subtypes or activity of cells—especially important in immune system evaluation. At Amerimmune Clinic, flow cytometry enables us to distinguish between various types of lymphocytes and other immune cells, and even assess their function or activation status.

Flow cytometry is a powerful laboratory technique that enables our clinical team to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of cells within a fluid sample, providing crucial insights for both diagnosis and ongoing management.

A core application of flow cytometry is the diagnosis and monitoring of blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma, as well as complex immune system disorders. When a patient is first evaluated, flow cytometry helps us accurately identify abnormal cell populations—such as atypical lymphocytes or blasts—that may indicate disease.

Once a diagnosis is made and treatment begins, our clinicians rely on flow cytometry to track treatment progress over time. By repeatedly measuring specific cell populations, we can assess how well the therapy is working for each individual patient. This allows us to make data-driven adjustments to treatment plans, ensuring the best possible outcomes.

Flow cytometry is also integral at Amerimmune Clinic for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD)—the small number of abnormal cells that may remain after treatment and could signal a potential relapse. Our advanced flow cytometry capabilities are highly sensitive, often detecting disease at levels that are not visible with traditional microscopic methods. Early identification of MRD enables our team to intervene sooner, offering patients a better chance at long-term remission and improved quality of life.

Flow cytometry is an essential tool in our approach to advanced immune system evaluation and personalized patient care. This cutting-edge technology allows our clinicians to perform immunophenotyping—the detailed identification and quantification of various immune cell populations—by analyzing individual cells within a blood or tissue sample.

In our clinic, we use flow cytometry to label patient samples with fluorescent antibodies that recognize specific cell surface or intracellular markers. As these labeled cells pass through a laser beam in the flow cytometer, the instrument detects and records their unique fluorescence patterns, size, and internal complexity. This process enables us to rapidly and simultaneously analyze thousands to millions of cells, providing a comprehensive snapshot of a patient’s immune system.

The information gained through flow cytometry is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring a range of immune-mediated conditions that we commonly see at Amerimmune Clinic, including primary immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, and certain blood cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas. By identifying abnormal immune cell populations or tracking changes in immune cell subsets over time, we can tailor our diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to each patient’s unique needs.

In Amerimmune Clinic, repeat flow cytometry testing is sometimes recommended when it is clinically necessary to ensure optimal patient care. Some common reasons for repeating this test include:

• Monitoring Disease Progression or Response to Treatment: For patients with immune disorders or hematologic conditions, flow cytometry allows us to track changes in specific cell populations over time. This information guides decisions about therapy adjustments or disease management.
• Evaluating New or Changing Symptoms: If you experience new or worsening symptoms, repeat testing can help us detect changes in your immune system that may require attention.
• Assessing for Relapse or Remission: In cases of previously diagnosed immune-related diseases or blood cancers, flow cytometry can help determine if a condition has returned or is in remission.
• Clarifying Inconclusive Results: Occasionally, initial test results may be unclear. A repeat flow cytometry analysis ensures we have the most accurate and complete information for your diagnosis and care.
• Technical Issues: Rarely, technical challenges with the initial sample may necessitate a repeat test to ensure reliable results.

The frequency of follow-up testing is highly dependent on the patient’s underlying condition and treatment plan.

• Cancer (Leukemia/Lymphoma): It is routinely repeated to monitor for Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) after treatment. This helps physicians detect very low levels of residual cancer cells that predict a relapse, informing the need for further therapy. Follow-up is often scheduled at regular intervals (e.g., every few months) post-remission.
• Primary Immunodeficiency/HIV: Testing is repeated to monitor disease progression and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. For example, CD4 T-lymphocyte counts are regularly monitored in HIV patients to track immune status.
• Transplantation: It is used to monitor immune reconstitution and ensure the immune system is recovering correctly after bone marrow or stem cell transplants.

At Amerimmune Clinic, we are dedicated to providing the most advanced diagnostic solutions for patients with complex or unexplained immune-related conditions. Led by renowned immunologist Dr. Oral Alpan, MD, our clinic specializes in cutting-edge flow cytometry testing—an essential tool for in-depth immune system evaluation and accurate disease diagnosis.

What is Flow Cytometry?

Flow cytometry is a sophisticated laboratory technology that analyzes the physical and chemical characteristics of cells within a fluid sample, using lasers and fluorescent markers. This allows for precise identification and measurement of various immune cell types—including T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells—as well as assessment of their activation and maturity. Flow cytometry can also detect rare or abnormal cell populations that may be missed by standard blood tests.

Why Choose Amerimmune Clinic for Flow Cytometry?

At Amerimmune Clinic, Dr. Alpan’s expertise in immunology ensures that flow cytometry results are interpreted with the highest level of clinical insight. Our team uses this advanced testing to diagnose and monitor a wide range of immune system disorders, such as:

• Primary immunodeficiencies
• Autoimmune diseases
• Hematological (blood) disorders
• Chronic or recurrent infections

Flow cytometry results at Amerimmune Clinic are used to inform targeted, personalized treatment plans and to monitor patient progress over time. Our state-of-the-art laboratory and commitment to individualized patient care mean you receive timely, accurate answers for even the most challenging immune concerns.

What Sets Us Apart?

• Expert clinical interpretation by Dr. Oral Alpan, a leader in immunology
• Comprehensive immune assessment using the latest technology
• Collaborative approach with your referring physician or care team
• Personalized care for adults and children with immune-related health issues

Flow Cytometry Testing is available at Amerimmune Clinic. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 501 N. Frederick Avenue Suite 304, Gaithersburg, MD 20877. We serve patients from Gaithersburg MD, Montgomery Village MD, Redland MD, Germantown MD, and surrounding areas.