Characterization of Plasma Cells in Bone Marrow (BM) for cytogenetic abnormalities is a common genetic test to diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma (MM). Plasma cells in MM patients vary in proportion from <1% up to 100%. Even though Circulating Plasma Cells (CPCs) burden in peripheral blood is reported to be >100-fold lower than in BM, their presence is considered an important prognostic marker in patients with MM, with a less invasive sample collection. However, the time-consuming sample preparation steps and the considerable loss of cells during the process is still a significant challenge. The MARS platform addresses it through an easy method to isolate CD138+ plasma cells from peripheral blood without RBC lysis and density gradient centrifugation.
