Utility of nine-color, 11-parameter flow cytometry for detection of plasma cell neoplasms: a comparison with bone marrow morphologic findings and concurrent M-protein studies in serum and urine.

Objectives: Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) is a widely available laboratory platform for the evaluation of plasma cell (PC) neoplasms. We assess the performance of a nine-color MFC assay that uses stain-lyse-fix processing of bone marrow aspirates, minimal wash steps, and high acquisition rates with analysis of up to 1.8 × 10(6) cells.