Published on: August 10, 2024
The Department of Pathology at Swami Rama Himalayan University organized an insightful guest lecture by Dr. Prashant Tembhare, Professor at the Department of Hematopathology, ACTREC, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, on August 10, 2024. The session was part of a broader academic series titled “Hematology Insights: From Coagulation to Cytometry.”
Addressing an audience of approximately 120 participants, Dr. Tembhare focused on the crucial role of flow cytometry in the diagnosis and classification of various lymphomas. The lecture provided a deep dive into the sample processing techniques and analytical protocols essential for effective cytometric analysis.
Dr. Tembhare elaborated on the processing of different specimen types, including peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow aspirate (BMA), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), pleural fluid (PF), and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), which already exist in a suspended cell state. He also explained the specialized methods required to process solid tissues—such as slicing, mincing, teasing, and filtering—to prepare viable single-cell suspensions suitable for flow cytometric evaluation.
An important segment of the lecture addressed sample stabilization practices. Dr. Tembhare emphasized using anticoagulants like EDTA or Heparin to prevent clotting in blood samples and RPMI media to preserve the viability of cells in fluid specimens and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples.
The lecture also touched upon the significance of identifying specific marker expressions to distinguish between B-cell and T-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL), underscoring the diagnostic precision that flow cytometry brings to hematopathology.
The event proved to be a rich academic experience, enhancing participants’ understanding of cutting-edge diagnostic methodologies. It concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where attendees engaged in meaningful dialogue, reflecting the practical impact and relevance of the session to clinical and research settings.
