Reference Books in Clinical Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry: Principles for Clinical Laboratory Practice Marilyn A. Owens Michael R. Loken Wiley-Liss, New York, 1995 9 Chapters, 224 Pages, Indexed ISBN 0-471-02176-8 [Paperback]

This book presents 9 chapters and 220 pages of information related to the quality control aspect of flow cytometry. In particular, this book addresses the topic from the perspective of the clinical laboratory. A valuable aspect is that each chapter has around 20 tutorial questions that the reader should be able to answer based upon the chapter content. After a general introduction to flow cytometry the book discusses in some detail several aspects of flow cytometry related to blood cell analysis. These include light scatter, compensation, fluorescence probes, and signal amplification all in relation to immunophenotyping. Specific examples are always provided using commonly used monoclonal antibodies you would expect to use in the clinical laboratory. Two areas are used in detail for examples: HIV immunophenotyping, and peripheral blood stem cell quantitation. Safety precautions are stressed and reference is made regularly to appropriate regulatory agencies. The chapter should be standard reading for all laboratory personnel regardless of whether they are "clinical" or not! A refreshing aspect of this book is that it deals with the science and the technology without mentioning specific companies or products. The book is useful for all flow cytometry labs regardless of the clinical content of their facility. Perhaps this should be mandatory reading for all technicians, graduate students and postdocs before they are allowed into the lab!

For more information contact J.Paul Robinson, Ph.D., Director PUCL, 1515 Hansen B050, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1515, U.S.A. Phone: (317) 494-0757; Fax: (317) 494-0517 robinson@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu