MIFlowCyt-EV framework for reporting EV flow cytometry experiments published

Flow cytometry (FC) is a powerful method for counting single cells and measuring their molecular components. There is increasing interest in applying flow cytometry to the analysis of extracellular vesicles (EV), but EVs are orders of magnitude smaller than the cells for which FC instruments and protocols were originally designed. To catalyze the development of new instruments and assays for EV flow cytometry, three scientific societies came together to form the EV Flow Cytometry Working Group (evflowcytometry.org):

• ISEV, the International Society of Extracellular Vesicles
• ISAC, the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry, and
• ISTH, the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

The working group first performed two standardization studies, distributing standards and samples to EV-FC laboratories worldwide to enable an objective comparison of methods, instruments, controls, and analytical tools. Those initial studies led to the realization that a standard framework for reporting experimental results is essential.

The working group has now published that standard in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles. It is called MIFlowCyt-EV, the Minimum Information to report for Flow Cytometry studies of Extracellular Vesicles. The MIFlowCyt-EV reporting framework incorporates the existing Minimum Information for Studies of EVs (MISEV) guidelines and Minimum Information about a Flow Cytometry experiment (MIFlowCyt) standard.

The figure above outlines the 7 main categories of information included in the framework. Not all EV-FC experiments will involve all seven areas, but any area touched on by an experiment should follow the MIFlowCyt-EV reporting guidelines.

MIFlowCyt-EV provides a structure for sharing EV-FC results, but it does not mandate the use of specific instruments or protocols, since the field of EV flow cytometry is still rapidly evolving. MIFlowCyt-EV accommodates this evolution, while providing information needed to evaluate and compare different approaches. Consistent reporting of the results of EV flow cytometry studies will improve the ability to quantitatively compare results from different laboratories and support the development of new instruments and assays for improved measurement of EVs.

Reference
Welsh JA, et al. MIFlowCyt-EV: a framework for standardized reporting of extracellular vesicle flow cytometry experiments. J Extracell Vesicles (2020) doi: 10.1080/20013078.2020.1713526