Basic Concepts and Clinical Applications of Flow Cytometry Certificate Program

This certificate program is completed online, at your own pace, within ADLM’s learning platform. It must be completed within one year of the purchase date.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The applications of flow cytometry are broad and can be used across a variety of medical areas. One advantage of flow cytometry is a high level of sensitivity compared with other conventional methods of analysis. Participants in this online certificate program will learn the basics of flow cytometry and how it can be used as a diagnostic tool for the identification of various human diseases. It is intended for laboratory professionals using flow cytometry in their work and/or research. The certificate program was developed in collaboration with the ADLM Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology Division and AMLI.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Lab Supervisors, Lab Directors (and/or assistant directors), Lab Managers (supervisory and/or non-supervisory), Medical Technologists, Pathologists, Other Laboratory Professionals

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Explain instrumentation used in flow cytometry; discuss the importance of quality assurance in flow cytometry; and list clinical applications of flow cytometry.
• Discuss regulatory requirements for flow cytometry; explain how sample preparation and instrument function are related to quality control and quality assurance.
• List the methods of immunophenotyping; discuss the requirements for peripheral blood subsets; describe how CD4 counts are used in clinical utility.
• Discuss the application of flow cytometry for hematopoietic neoplasias; explain side scatter and front scatter in flow cytometry plots.
• Describe primary immunodeficiencies; list the advantages of flow cytometry in primary immunodeficiencies; discuss the differences in primary immunodeficiencies between the adaptive and innate immune systems.
• Explain flow cytometric methods for antibody screening and crossmatching in solid organ transplantation.

COURSES & FACULTY

The program is composed of six courses, listed below. Each course can be completed online in approximately 1-2 hours and contains a lecture(s), and a quiz, and access to additional resources.

1. Basic Theory and Clinical Applications in Flow Cytometry
   Susan Orton, PhD, D(AMBLI), University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
   
2. Introduction to Quality Control and Quality Assurance in Flow Cytometry
   Lawrence Eck, NeoGenomics Laboratories, Fort Myers, FL
   
3. Flow Cytometry Protocols for Immunophenotyping
   Roberta Montgomery, MLS, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
   
4. Flow Cytometry for the Analysis of Hematopoietic Neoplasias
   Antony Bakke, PhD, D(AMBLI), Clarient, A GE Company
   
5. Flow Cytometry for the Diagnosis of Primary Immunodeficiencies
   Roshini Abraham, PhD, D(AMBLI), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
6. Flow Cytometry in Transplantation: Antibody Screening and Crossmatching
   John Schmitz, PhD, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC

DISCLOSURES

The Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) is dedicated to ensuring balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all educational activities. All participating planning committee members and faculty are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance in order to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. The intent of this disclosure is to provide participants with information on which they can make their own judgments.

The following planners and faculty reported no relevant financial relationships:

• Susan Orton, PhD, D(AMBLI)
• Lawrence Eck
• Roberta Montgomery, MLS
• Antony Bakke, PhD, D(AMBLI)
• Roshini Abraham, PhD, D(AMBLI)
• John Schmitz, PhD 

CONTENT VALIDITY

All recommendations involving clinical medicine are based on evidence accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients; AND/OR all scientific research referred to or reported in support or justification of a patient care recommendation conforms to generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis. 

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

This activity is approved for 12.0 ACCENT^® continuing education credits. Activity ID #4147. This activity was planned in accordance with ACCENT Standards and Policies. 

SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION STATEMENT

Verification of Participation certificates are provided to registered participants based on completion of the activity, in its entirety, and the activity evaluation. The evaluation link will be emailed to the participants after all work within ADLM’s learning platform is complete. For questions regarding continuing education, please email [email protected]. 

Program Launch Year: 2012