Publications

UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping has contributed to the scientific literature for over three decades, advancing standards in flow cytometry, molecular haemato-oncology, and external quality assessment/proficiency testing worldwide.

Our publications span consensus guidelines, interlaboratory studies, and methodological research - covering areas from CD4+ T cell counting and CD34+ stem cell enumeration to PNH testing, measurable residual disease in haematological malignancies, and chimerism monitoring after HSCT. These collaborative works reflect our commitment to improving laboratory accuracy and patient outcomes through rigorous external quality assessment.

UK recommendations for chimerism testing and monitoring following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): Best practice consensus guidelines from the British Society for Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies (BSBMTCT), NHS England Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH) Haematological Malignancies Working Group, UK Cancer Genetics Group (UKCGG) and the UK National External Quality Assessment Service for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping (UK NEQAS LI)

Clark A, Clouston H, Rao K, Folarin N, De la Fuente J, Hamblin A, Olavarria E, Richardson D, Talley P, Potter V, Loke J, McVeigh T, Snowden J. 

Br J Haematol. 2025 Sep 9. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.70061. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40926330

Estimation of the allowable total error of the absolute CD34+ cell count by flow cytometry using data from UK NEQAS exercises 2004-2024

Brando B, Whitby L, Gatti A, Whitby A, Di Credico F, Scott S

 Clin Chem Lab Med. 2025 Mar 3;63(6):1190-1198  doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2025-0065. PMID: 40021343.

European flow cytometry quality assurance guidelines for the diagnosis of primary immune deficiencies and assessment of immune reconstitution following B cell depletion therapies and transplantation

Kelleher P, Greathead L, Whitby L, Brando B; UK NEQAS Leucocyte Immunophenotyping Steering Committee; Barnett D, Bloxham D, deTute R, Dunlop A, Farren T, Francis S, Payne D, Scott S, Snowden JA, Sorour Y, Stansfield E, Virgo P, Whitby A

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2024 Nov;106(6):424-436. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.22195  

Epub 2024 Jun 28. PMID: 38940298.

Recommendations from the AML molecular MRD expert advisory board

Scott S, Devonshire A, Dillon R, Thiede C, Cross NCP, White HE, Lo Cascio L, Mokretar K, Potter N, Hourigan CS, Radich J, Corner A, Laloux V, Halliday G, Dilks D, Morrison T, Gilmour K, Cartwright A, Whitby L

Leukemia. 2024 Jul;38(7):1638-1641. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41375-024-02275-x.

Epub 2024 May 23. PMID: 38783160; PMCID: PMC11216975.

Assessment of acute myeloid leukemia molecular measurable residual disease testing in an interlaboratory study

Scott S, Dillon R, Thiede C, Sadiq S, Cartwright A, Clouston HJ, Travis D, Mokretar K, Potter N, Chantry A, Whitby L

Blood Adv. 2023 Jul 25;7(14):3686-3694. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2022009379. PMID: 36939402; PMCID: PMC10368676.

Implementation of the updated NICE haematological cancers (NG47) improving outcomes guidelines across Specialist Integrated Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Services (SIHMDS) in England: a UK NEQAS LI survey

Cartwright A, Snowden JA, Whitehouse H, Scott S, Whitby L

J Clin Pathol. 2023 Sep;76(9):618-623. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/jclinpath-2021-208075. Epub 2022 May 4. PMID: 35508367; PMCID: PMC10447389.

Evaluation of multiple myeloma measurable residual disease by high sensitivity flow cytometry: An international harmonized approach for data analysis

Soh KT, Came N, Otteson GE, Jevremovic D, Shi M, Olteanu H, Natoni A, Lagoo A, Theakston E, Óskarsson JÞ, Gorniak M, Grigoriadis G, Arroz M, Fletcher M, Lin P, Ludwig P, Tembhare P, Matuzeviciene R, Radzevicius M, Kay S, Chen W, Cabrita C, Wallace PK

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2022 Mar;102(2):88-106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.22053. Epub 2022 Jan 10. PMID: 35005838; PMCID: PMC10105368.

Assessing the impact of the 2017 European LeukemiaNet recommendations on FLT3 allelic ratio calculation and reporting in acute myeloid leukaemia

Cartwright A, Scott S, Francis S, Whitby L

 Br J Haematol. 2022 May;197(3):e35-e37. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.18023. Epub 2022 Jan 3. PMID: 34981510

Assessment of droplet digital polymerase chain reaction for measuring BCR-ABL1 in chronic myeloid leukaemia in an international interlaboratory study

Scott S, Cartwright A, Francis S, Whitby L, Sanzone AP, Mulder A, Galimberti S, Dulucq S, Mauté C, Lauricella C, Salmon M, Rose S, Willoughby J, Boeckx N, Pallisgaard N, Maier J, Leibundgut EO, Zizkova H, Ling Goh L, Duong C, Tang WF, Ma E, Shivakumar Y, Beppu L, Bhagavatula P, Chantry A

Br J Haematol. 2021 Jul;194(1):53-60. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.17521. Epub 2021 Jun 10. PMID: 34114218.

Current trends in flow cytometry automated data analysis software

Cheung M, Campbell JJ, Whitby L, Thomas RJ, Braybrook J, Petzing J

Cytometry A. 2021 Oct;99(10):1007-1021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.a.24320. Epub 2021 Feb 19. PMID: 33606354

Assessment of plasma cell myeloma minimal residual disease testing by flow cytometry in an international inter-laboratory study: Is it ready for primetime use?

Scott SD, Fletcher M, Whitehouse H, Whitby L, Yuan C, Mazzucchelli S, Lin P, de Tute R, Dorwal P, Wallace PK, Tembhare P, Arroz M, Snowden JA, Chantry AD, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2019 May;96(3):201-208. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21754. Epub 2018 Dec 19. PMID: 30565840.

ICCS/ESCCA consensus guidelines to detect GPI-deficient cells in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and related disorders part 4 - assay validation and quality assurance

Oldaker T, Whitby L, Saber M, Holden J, Wallace PK, Litwin V

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2018 Jan;94(1):67-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21615. PMID: 29251828.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria testing in blood transfusion laboratories: do they go with the flow?

Whitby L, White J, Fletcher M, Whitby A, Milkins C, Barnett D

Transfus Med. 2018 Dec;28(6):451-456. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/tme.12449. Epub 2017 Aug 18. PMID: 28833743

Laboratory Accuracy Improvement in the UK NEQAS Leucocyte Immunophenotyping Immune Monitoring Program: An Eleven-Year Review via Longitudinal Mixed Effects Modeling

Bainbridge J, Rountree W, Louzao R, Wong J, Whitby L, Denny TN, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2018 Mar;94(2):250-256. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21531. Epub 2017 May 16. PMID: 28480599; PMCID: PMC5677584.

Measurement of BCR-ABL1 by RT-qPCR in chronic myeloid leukaemia: findings from an International EQA Programme

Scott S, Travis D, Whitby L, Bainbridge J, Cross NCP, Barnett D

Br J Haematol. 2017 May;177(3):414-422. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.14557. Epub 2017 Mar 14. PMID: 28295199.

Current international flow cytometric practices for the detection and monitoring of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria clones: A UK NEQAS survey

Fletcher M, Whitby L, Whitby A, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2017 Jul;92(4):266-274. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21368. Epub 2016 Apr 18. PMID: 26934069.

Flow cytometry quality requirements for monitoring of minimal disease in plasma cell myeloma

Oldaker TA, Wallace PK, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2016 Jan;90(1):40-6. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21276. Epub 2015 Sep 4. PMID: 26201282; PMCID: PMC5404813.

Current laboratory practices in flow cytometry for the enumeration of CD 4(+) T-lymphocyte subsets

Whitby L, Whitby A, Fletcher M, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2015 Sep-Oct;88(5):305-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21241. Epub 2015 Jul 6. PMID: 25828263.

CD4 enumeration technologies: a systematic review of test performance for determining eligibility for antiretroviral therapy

Peeling RW, Sollis KA, Glover S, Crowe SM, Landay AL, Cheng B, Barnett D, Denny TN, Spira TJ, Stevens WS, Crowley S, Essajee S, Vitoria M, Ford N

PLoS One. 2015 Mar 19;10(3):e0115019. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115019. PMID: 25790185; PMCID: PMC4366094.

United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping Chimerism Working Group. Monitoring of chimerism following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): technical recommendations for the use of short tandem repeat (STR) based techniques, on behalf of the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping Chimerism Working Group

Clark JR, Scott SD, Jack AL, Lee H, Mason J, Carter GI, Pearce L, Jackson T, Clouston H, Sproul A, Keen L, Molloy K, Folarin N, Whitby L, Snowden JA, Reilly JT, Barnett D

Br J Haematol. 2015 Jan;168(1):26-37. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjh.13073. Epub 2014 Aug 22. PMID: 25145701.

Standardizing leucocyte PNH clone detection: an international study

Fletcher M, Sutherland DR, Whitby L, Whitby A, Richards SJ, Acton E, Keeney M, Borowitz M, Illingworth A, Reilly JT, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2014 Sep;86(5):311-8. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21174. Epub 2014 Apr 9. PMID: 24715466.

Systematic review of the use of dried blood spots for monitoring HIV viral load and for early infant diagnosis

Smit PW, Sollis KA, Fiscus S, Ford N, Vitoria M, Essajee S, Barnett D, Cheng B, Crowe SM, Denny T, Landay A, Stevens W, Habiyambere V, Perriens JH, Peeling RW

PLoS One. 2014 Mar 6;9(3):e86461. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0086461. PMID: 24603442; PMCID: PMC3945725.

Systematic review of the performance of HIV viral load technologies on plasma samples

Sollis KA, Smit PW, Fiscus S, Ford N, Vitoria M, Essajee S, Barnett D, Cheng B, Crowe SM, Denny T, Landay A, Stevens W, Habiyambere V, Perrins J, Peeling RW

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 18;9(2):e85869. doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085869. PMID: 24558359; PMCID: PMC3928047.

ICSH/ICCS Working Group. Validation of cell-based fluorescence assays: practice guidelines from the ICSH and ICCS - part IV - postanalytic considerations

Barnett D, Louzao R, Gambell P, De J, Oldaker T, Hanson CA

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2013 Sep-Oct;84(5):309-14. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21107. PMID: 24022853.

Comparison of methodological data measurement limits in CD4⁺ T lymphocyte flow cytometric enumeration and their clinical impact on HIV management

Whitby L, Whitby A, Fletcher M, Helbert M, Reilly JT, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2013 Jul-Aug;84(4):248-54. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.21094. Epub 2013 Apr 23. PMID: 23788473.

VERITAS?: A time for VERIQAS™ and a new approach to training, education, and the quality assessment of CD4+ T lymphocyte counting (I)

Barnett D, Whitby L, Wong J, Louzao R, Reilly JT, Denny TN

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2012 Mar;82(2):93-100. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.20624. Epub 2011 Oct 13. PMID: 21998025; PMCID: PMC4126193.

ISHAGE protocol: are we doing it correctly?

Whitby A, Whitby L, Fletcher M, Reilly JT, Sutherland DR, Keeney M, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2012 Jan;82(1):9-17. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.20612. Epub 2011 Sep 13. PMID: 21915992.

 CD4 immunophenotyping in HIV infection

Barnett D, Walker B, Landay A, Denny TN

Nat Rev Microbiol. 2008 Nov;6(11 Suppl):S7-15. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1998. PMID: 18923413; PMCID: PMC2728050.

Long-term stabilized blood samples as controls for flow cytometric HLA-B27 screening: a feasibility study

Levering WH, Wind H, Granger V, Sintnicolaas K, Hooijkaas H, Reilly JT, Gratama JW, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2008 May;74(3):169-81. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.20388. PMID: 18200592

Evaluation of ZAP-70 expression by flow cytometry in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A multicentric international harmonization process

Letestu R, Rawstron A, Ghia P, Villamor N, Boeckx N, Boettcher S, Buhl AM, Duerig J, Ibbotson R, Kroeber A, Langerak A, Le Garff-Tavernier M, Mockridge I, Morilla A, Padmore R, Rassenti L, Ritgen M, Shehata M, Smolewski P, Staib P, Ticchioni M, Walker C, Ajchenbaum-Cymbalista F

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2008 Jul;74(4):259. Leuven, Nancy Boeckx [corrected to Boeckx, Nancy].

doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.20132  PMID: 16906588.

 Flow rate calibration. III. The use of stabilized biostandards to calibrate the flow rate and calculate absolute CD4+ T-cell counts

Walker CL, Whitby L, Granger V, Storie I, Reilly JT, Barnett D

 Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2006 May;70(3):154-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.20103. PMID: 16572418.

Diagnosis of plasma cell leukaemia: findings of the UK NEQAS for Leucocyte Immunophenotyping scheme

van Veen JJ, Reilly JT, Richards SJ, Whitby L, Goodfellow K, Granger V, Rees DC, Barnett D

Clin Lab Haematol. 2004 Feb;26(1):37-42. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0141-9854.2003.00584.x. PMID: 14738436.

 Perfect count: a novel approach for the single platform enumeration of absolute CD4+ T-lymphocytes

Storie I, Sawle A, Goodfellow K, Whitby L, Granger V, Ward RY, Peel J, Smart T, Reilly JT, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2004 Jan;57(1):47-52. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.10065. PMID: 14696063.

Flow rate calibration II: a clinical evaluation study using PanLeucoGating as a single-platform protocol

Storie I, Sawle A, Whitby L, Goodfellow K, Granger V, Reilly JT, Barnett D

 Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2003 Sep;55(1):8-13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.10050. PMID: 12949954.

Flow rate calibration I: a novel approach for performing absolute cell counts

Storie I, Sawle A, Goodfellow K, Whitby L, Granger V, Reilly JT, Barnett D

Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2003 Sep;55(1):1-7. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.b.10051. PMID: 12949953.

Grading of laboratories on CD4+ T-lymphocyte evaluations based on acceptable data boundaries defined by the measurement error

Kunkl A, Risso D, Terranova MP, Girotto M, Brando B, Mortara L, Lantieri PB

Cytometry. 2002 Apr 15;50(2):117-26. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.10069. PMID: 12116354.

Quality control of CD4+ T-lymphocyte enumeration: results from the last 9 years of the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme for Immune Monitoring (1993-2001)

Whitby L, Granger V, Storie I, Goodfellow K, Sawle A, Reilly JT, Barnett D

Cytometry. 2002 Apr 15;50(2):102-10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.10094. PMID: 12116352.

CD45-assisted PanLeucogating for accurate, cost-effective dual-platform CD4+ T-cell enumeration

Glencross D, Scott LE, Jani IV, Barnett D, Janossy G

Cytometry. 2002 Apr 15;50(2):69-77. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/cyto.10068. PMID: 12116348.

 UK NEQAS for leucocyte immunophenotyping: the first 10 years

Reilly JT, Barnett D

J Clin Pathol. 2001 Jul;54(7):508-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.54.7.508. PMID: 11429420; PMCID: PMC1731480.

 Low level leucocyte counting: a critical variable in the validation of leucodepleted blood transfusion components as highlighted by an external quality assessment study

Barnett D, Goodfellow K, Ginnever J, Granger V, Whitby L, Reilly JT

Clin Lab Haematol. 2001 Feb;23(1):43-51. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2257.2001.00356.x. PMID: 11422230.

Standardization of lymphocyte antibody binding capacity - a multi-centre study

Barnett D, Storie I, Granger V, Whitby L, Reilly JT, Brough S, Garner S, Lawry J, Richards S, Bell AE, Shenton BK

Clin Lab Haematol. 2000 Apr;22(2):89-96. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2257.2000.00286.x. PMID: 10792398.

Reduction of intra- and interlaboratory variation in CD34+ stem cell enumeration using stable test material, standard protocols and targeted training. DK34 Task Force of the European Working Group of Clinical Cell Analysis (EWGCCA)

Barnett D, Granger V, Kraan J, Whitby L, Reilly JT, Papa S, Gratama JW

 Br J Haematol. 2000 Mar;108(4):784-92. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.01932.x. PMID: 10792284.

Absolute CD4+ T-lymphocyte and CD34+ stem cell counts by single-platform flow cytometry: the way forward

Barnett D, Granger V, Whitby L, Storie I, Reilly JT

Br J Haematol. 1999 Sep;106(4):1059-62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2141.1999.01632.x. PMID: 10520014.

Quality assessment of CD34+ stem cell enumeration: experience of the United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Scheme (UK NEQAS) using a unique stable whole blood preparation

Barnett D, Granger V, Storie I, Peel J, Pollitt R, Smart T, Reilly JT

Br J Haematol. 1998 Jul;102(2):553-65. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2141.1998.00784.x. PMID: 9695973.

 Determination of leucocyte antibody binding capacity (ABC): the need for standardization

Barnett D, Storie I, Wilson GA, Granger V, Reilly JT

Clin Lab Haematol. 1998 Jun;20(3):155-64. doi: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2257.1998.00116.x. PMID: 9681230.

 Evaluation of a novel stable whole blood quality control material for lymphocyte subset analysis: results from the UK NEQAS immune monitoring scheme

Barnett D, Granger V, Mayr P, Storie I, Wilson GA, Reilly JT

Cytometry. 1996 Sep 15;26(3):216-22. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0320(19960915)26:3%3C216::AID-CYTO6%3E3.0.CO;2-C. PMID: 8889394.