For successful immunophenotypic analysis, what is the minimum cell count required in a sample?

For successful immunophenotypic analysis, the minimum cell count required in a sample is critically important for ensuring reliable and reproducible results. The correct answer highlights that a minimum of 5 cells per cubic millimeter (cells/cmm) is necessary. This level of cellularity allows for adequate representation of the population being analyzed, which is crucial for accurately identifying specific cell types and their characteristics using flow cytometry.

At lower cell counts, such as 1 cell/cmm, the likelihood of obtaining misleading or statistically insignificant data increases. Similarly, while higher counts like 10 and 15 cells/cmm may provide better representation, the established minimum benchmark is set at 5 cells/cmm based on typical requirements for reaching analytical sensitivity and specificity in immunophenotyping. Thus, having at least 5 cells/cmm ensures that sufficient data points are available for analysis, facilitating more precise interpretation of the immunophenotypic profiles being evaluated.