Key clinical point: The peripheral blood parameters of total white blood cell (WBC) count at least 20×10 9/L, basophilia, and granulocytic left shift could help identify the need for BCR-ABL1 testing for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) diagnosis, thereby reducing unnecessary testing, health care costs, and risk of clinically false-positive results.
Major finding: Overall, 92% of patients with newly diagnosed CML had a WBC count of at least 20×10 9/L, whereas 92% of non-CML patients had a WBC count less than 20×10 9/L. A positive BCR-ABL1 p210 result was associated with the presence of basophilia (86% sensitivity; 96% specificity), granulocytic left shift with circulating myelocytes and metamyelocytes (95% sensitivity; 94% specificity), and WBC of at least 20×10 9/L (92% sensitivity; 92% specificity).
Study details: Findings are from a retrospective analysis of 495 patients undergoing first-time testing for p210 BCR-ABL1 on peripheral blood by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Disclosures: No source of funding was identified. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Fenu E et al. Int J Lan Hematol. 2021 Jun 29. doi: 10.1111/ijlh.13635 .