By Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.

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Immunophenotyping is a test used to identify cells on the basis of the types of markers or antigens present on the cell’s surface, nucleus, or cytoplasm. This technique helps identify the lineage of cells using antibodies that detect markers or antigens on the cells, hence the “immuno-” prefix.

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While some antigens are found only on one type of cell, others are found on different types. This process is widely used to diagnose different types of lymphoma and leukemia by comparing normal cells and cancer cells. It has become a common technique for the identification and classification of acute leukemias, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML).