Description
This antibody recognizes a cell surface glycoprotein of 95/115/135kDa (depending upon the extent of glycosylation), identified as CD43 [Workshop IV]. 70-90% of T-cell lymphomas and 22-37% of B-cell lymphomas express CD43. No reactivity has been observed with reactive B-cells. So a B-lineage population that co-expresses CD43 is highly likely to be a malignant lymphoma, especially a low-grade lymphoma, rather than a reactive B-cell population. When CD43 antibody is used in combination with CD20 antibody, effective immunophenotyping of the lymphomas in formalin-fixed tissues can be obtained. Co-staining of a lymphoid infiltrate with CD20 and CD42 antibody argues against a reactive process and favors a diagnosis of lymphoma