Diagnostic tests for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
Find out how CLL is diagnosed.
Detecting CLL isn’t easy. All too often it is discovered when changes
in the blood show up during a routine medical checkup. When this happens, doctors
use a variety of tests to confirm a CLL diagnosis. Here are some of the tests used
to diagnose CLL:
Blood cell counts: Checks lymphocyte (the cells that fight infection)
levels. People with CLL have a high lymphocyte count and/or a low red blood cell
and platelet count.
Blood cell examination: Examines CLL cells to determine if CLL
is the reason for the high lymphocyte count.
Immunoglobulin test: Checks the blood for immunoglobulin, the proteins
that help the body fight infection.
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): Tests to see
if there are changes to the chromosomes of the CLL cells.
Bone marrow biopsy: Examines bone marrow for abnormalities. This
test provides a baseline used later for assessing the effects of treatment.
Find out how CLL is treated