Flow Cytometry Testing

The Flow Cytometry Laboratory at Virant Diagnostics is committed to offering patient-focused, informative, and impactful immune testing. We take pride in patient care with a focus on rapid turnaround time, expert interpretation reporting, and customizable testing solutions.

Standard Immunophenotyping Panel (SIP)

Screening for an immune disorder in patients with recurrent or unusual infections, as well as monitoring immunodeficiency, which could evaluate by the panels as below:

  • Lymphocyte monitoring (T, B and NK cells, T cell subsets, α/β, γ/δ T cells, NKT cells and & activation, T-cell memory)
  • B cell panel (B cell development in peripheral blood)
  • Dendritic cell panel

Basophil Activation Panel (BAT)

Basophil Activation Testing can assist in the management of patient’s food and venom allergies, which allows for targeted therapies, such as Oral Food Challenge or Oral Immunotherapy. The allergic condition of the patients will be evaluated through the basophil reactivity to the allergens with different titers.  The test for available food, seafood allergens and Hymenoptera Venom allergens listed as below:

  • Food allergens: Peanut, Almond, Cashew nut, Hazelnut, Pistachio, Walnut, Sesame, Milk, Soybean, Wheat, Egg White, Beef, Pecan
  • Seafood allergens: Shrimp, Crab, American Lobster, Shellfish mix (Clam, Crab, Oyster, Scallops, Shrimp), Fish mix (Cod, Flounder, Halibut, Mackerel, Tuna), yellowfin Tuna, Atlantic salmon
  • Hymenoptera Venom: yellow jacket, wasp, yellow hornet, white faced hornet, honeybee.

Notes: A concurrent CBC/Diff should be drawn with SIP and BAT assays so that absolute cell values can be reported.

Sample collection

  • SIP --- At least 3ml blood EDTA tube (Laender top)
  • BAT --- At least 7ml blood in Heparin Tube (Green Top)
  • CBC/Diff --- At least 3ml blood EDTA tube (Laender top)

Result Reporting

The Flow Cytometry results will be reported to you and your office within 3 days of specimen receipt including an expert analysis and interpretation of the results, as well as optional patient’s personalized recommendations in the context of their clinical information.

Billing Information

  • Flow cytometry is a covered service by most Preferred Provider Organization ( Health plans, while most Health Maintenance Organization ( plans do not cover testing Insurance policies are unique and vary in allowances.
  • Patients can self-pay 500 /test if insurance not covered.

PHLEBOTOMY

  • Draw tubes according to test requirements that are in the kit provided by Virant Diagnostics
  • Concurrent CBC with differential is required for all IAA flow cytometry panels
  • CBC/Diff testing to be drawn and sent to Virant Diagnostics (alternatively, the CBC and other laboratory testing could be sent to your preferred commercial reference lab)
  • FedEx Priority overnight shipping at 15-25 degrees Celsius is required Labeled packaging included in all kits.
  • Storage/Transport of whole blood at room temperature. Frozen samples are not acceptable.