WHAT ARE THE LABORATORY FINDINGS IN DIAGNOSIS?
Granulocyte count of more than 30,000 (normal 4 – 8,000) with the cells maturing in an orderly fashion. Platelet count more than 400,000 (normal 150 – 350,000). The marrow is packed with large numbers of mature and maturing granulocytes. When the chromosomes of these cells are examined by cytogenetic tests, a particular type of deformed chromosome is discovered. This is known as the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph chromosome) and its presence is diagnostic of CML (although very rarely it can be found in other types of leukemia). However, a small percentage of CML patients are Ph negative. Unless the Ph chromosome or the BCR/ABL product can be detected, the correct diagnosis is not CML, and the patient has a different type of MPD.
