As of September 8, 2025, the lab went live with a new and improved two-tube diagnostic panel using 29-colours for the dedicated B-cell focused tube and 32-colours for the dedicated T-cell focused tube. This new assay provides much more precise and resolved characterization of lymphoid cells and improved specificity and sensitivity for lymphoma diagnosis. This cutting-edge technology is enabled by the lab's deployment of a BD FACS Symphony A5 Spectral Enabled Flow Cytometer in early 2024.

The BC Cancer immunophenotyping assay is performed on samples including blood, bone marrow, body fluids, fine needle aspirates and various body tissues. We are a high-volume laboratory with over 6000 cases tested each year as of 2025 and an average increase in accessions of 6.2% per year for the past 16 years.

To support this volume and improve workflow standardization, the ​BD FACSDuet Integrated Sample Prep System was deployed in 2025 for antibody cocktailing, and is currently undergoing validation for use in sample preparation.

The BC Cancer flow cytometry lab performs data analysis using a custom-built, automated, multi-dimensional gating algorithm for detection of immune cell subpopulations which enables all data to be considered simultaneously rather than by manual inspection of just 2 parameters at a time as is typically performed by most other labs. This automated gating technology not only improves accuracy, reproducibility, and reliability, but does so more quickly and at reduced cost as compared to traditional manual gating. Data from each and every case is then reviewed manually by the hematopathologist on service in order to render a final diagnostic interpretation.

The current 32-colour, 2-tube panel includes the following antibody markers:

Tube B - CD45, CD14, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD79B, IgM, Kappa, Lambda, CD5, CD10, CD23, CD180, CD200, CD11c, CD25, CD103, CD123, CD24, CD27, CD38, CD44, CD58, CD138, CD30, CD3, HLA-ABC, HLA-DR, and CD34

Tube T - CD45, CD14, CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD4, CD8, CD25, CD26, CD28, CD30, CD38, CD95, CD127(IL7Ra), TRBC1, TRBC2, TCRgd, CD16, CD56, CD57, CD45RA, CD183(CXCR3), CD185(CXCR5), CD194(CCR4), CD196(CCR6), CD197(CCR7), CD278(ICOS), CD279(PD-1), CD19, and HLA-DR

History

1953 - Flow Cytometry was put in practice using the Coulter principle.

1980 - Explosive growth in the use of Flow Cytometry in clinical medicine.

2009 - Eight (8) colour assay is deployed on the BC FACS Canto II flow cytometer at BC Cancer.

2015 - Thirteen (13) colour assay is deployed on the BC LSR Fortessa flow cytometer at BC Cancer.

2020 – Fourteen (14) colour assay is deployed on the BD LSR Fortessa flow cytometer at BC Cancer.

2020 – Automated, multidimensional data analysis is deployed at BC Cancer.

2025 – Thirty-two (32) colour assay is deployed on the BD FACS Symphony A5 SE flow cytometer at BC Cancer (Vancouver).

Current Staff:

Medical Director: Dr. Andrew Weng

Associate/Scientific Director: Dr. Xuehai Wang

Team Lead: Nirlaip Gill

Technical Coordinator: Makhan

Medical Lab Technologists: Tracy, Nancy, Rey, Sara, Aya, and Cynthia

Medical Lab Assistants: Arleen and Sharveena