RE: PCR results - confused

[Guest guest]

Dear Kaqi,

First let me say that your results are excellent. In fact they are good

enough to get you into the Zero Club. So before I try to explain the

results, here is a

O!!! YIPPEEE!!!

Number 1093 in the Zero Club

Zavie

There are 3 types of tests for detecting and measuring the Philadelphia

Chromosome in your system and you have had them all. Each test is a more

sensitive test than the other. The BMB looks at 20 - 25 cells and reports

the result as a percentage. The FISH test looks at 200 - 500 cells and also

reports a percentage. The FISH test always over estimates the number of

Philadelphia Chromosomes in your system. Your result of 3.5% is probably 0.0

%. Each laboratory has its own threshold. The PCR test will look at 10,000

to 1,000,000 cells. The more sensitive the test is, the more chance that it

will detect some Philadelphia Chromosomes in your system. Your result of

0.37 represents a 2 log reduction of the number of Philadelphia Chromosomes

in your system.

The PCR test is always expressed as a ratio compared to what your PCR was at

diagnosis. Since most patients don't have a PCR test done at diagnosis time,

each lab establishes an average value at diagnosis. The lab that I am tested

at uses 10 as the PCR value at diagnosis time. It makes calculating PCR

results very easy. In order to monitor your progress with CML, you will need

to continue having PCRs done on a regular interval (usually every 3 months).

The goal in CML treatment is to reach a 3 log reduction of CML cells in your

system. At this level of remission there is no chance that you will relapse

and you can go on living a productive life taking one pill a day. Just keep

monitoring your PCR results and you will know exactly how well you are

doing.

This is a very basic explanation. There are many articles that go into much

more depth and you can find them easily with a Google search. Try and get a

copy of each of your lab results. It makes it so easy to see how well you

are doing.

I hope this helps.

Again, a hearty congratulations on achieving CCR. That's all it takes to get

a Zero Club number.

Zavie

Zavie (age 69)

67 Shoreham Avenue

Ottawa, Canada, K2G 3X3

dxd AUG/99

INF OCT/99 to FEB/00, CHF

No meds FEB/00 to JAN/01

Gleevec since MAR/27/01 (400 mg)

CCR SEP/01. #102 in Zero Club

2.8 log reduction Sep/05

3.0 log reduction Jan/06

2.9 log reduction Feb/07

3.2 log reduction Jun/07

e-mail: zmiller@...

Tel: 613-726-1117

Fax: 309-296-0807

Cell: 613-202-0204

ID: zaviem

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Arta

Emushi

Sent: September 7, 2007 5:29 AM

Subject: [ ] PCR results - confused

Hi to all,

Recently I have been at the hospital to have my results from my PCR, and I

got a little bit confused because I have had two FISH tests before and this

is my first PCR and I did not understand the results properly.

Just a short history, I was diagnosed in January 2007, I had a BMB and at

that time my doc expalined to me that 97% of my white blood cells are

cancerogenic, on my first FISH (after 4 months) the percentage had dropped

to 3.5% and now I had a PCR and my ratio was 0.37. My doc was propably

tryint to explain things for my FISH to me in a more simple manner with the

percentage however now the PCR results confused me a bit, and my doc was on

holiday so someone else tried to explain the results. Since many of you have

more experience with PCR can someone please explain my results, and to what

is it compared since its measured with ratio?

Many thanks.

Kaqi

Diagnosed January 2007

Gliveec 400mg

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