Positive result of a cytochemical reaction is a reflection of metabolic activity of cells.
Biochemical content of the blasts is different in some types and subtypes of acute leukemias (lipids, glycogen, myeloperoxidase, non-specific a-naphthyl esterase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase).
Cytochemical reactions have a role in the classification of acute leukemias because they can either confirm or suggest another cytomorphologic classification.
Today some counters can perform differentiation of the blood cells using specific cytochemical reactions, most often the reaction of myeloperoxidase.
TECHNICON H-SYSTEM has the possibility to quantify the reaction intensity using the so-called myeloperoxidase index. In practice, quantification of other cytochemical reactions is possible only microscopically.
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