Binding of fluorescein labelled concanavalin A to human bone marrow cells in leukaemias and lymphomas.

The binding of fluorescein conjugated concanavalin A (ConA) to human bone marrow cells from haematologically normal patients or patients with leukaemias or lymphomas with infiltrating lymphoid cells was investigated. A highly significant increase in the proportion of fluorescent nucleated cells was demonstrated for pathological as compared to cytologically normal bone marrow. The diagnostic value of this finding is discussed.