To enable knowledge sharing for laboratory personnel on technological advancement and best practices made towards assessment of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) in Acute Leukemia & Myeloma, BD Life Sciences-Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson, and Company) organised a 2-day workshop at the Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore. This knowledge-sharing workshop where eminent speakers from leading medical colleges and hospitals elaborated on the technical and analytical components of MRD assessment was attended by nearly 75 participants, from across the country, Philippines, and Australia.
Commenting on the initiative, Atul Grover, Managing Director, BD India/South Asia said, “Flow cytometry has proven to be an invaluable asset in several clinical applications and can play a key role in the detection of Minimal Residual Disease. In view of this, this knowledge-sharing workshop was organized with the objective of providing a platform for laboratory personnel to access best practices and knowledge on technological advancements. At BD our aim is to bring clinical technologies to the market that help advance patient outcomes in alignment with our purpose of Advancing the World of Health.”
Minimal residual disease (MRD) is a term used to describe the small number of cancer cells in the body after cancer treatment. An MRD positive test result means that the disease was still detected after treatment. Doctors use MRD to measure the effectiveness of treatment and to predict which patients are at risk of relapse. It can also help doctors confirm and monitor remissions and possibly identify an early return of cancer.
Monitoring the response to chemotherapy and the depth of remission plays a critical role in the management of patients with hematological malignancies. It is important for practicing hematopathologists to understand the prognostic and therapeutic significance of the MRD result and be aware of the advances made in this field.
Flow Cytometry is a process used to sort, separate and examine microscopic particles, such as cells and chromosomes. It plays an important role in clinical diagnostics and research. BD offers a growing portfolio of flow cytometry instruments for Leukemia/Lymphoma phenotyping, stem cell research, immunology, and CD4 testing.
