This Antibody recognizes a 67 kDa transmembrane protein，which is identified as CD5. The CD5 antigen is found on 95% of thymocytes and 72% of peripheral blood lymphocytes. In lymph nodes，the main reactivity is observed in T cell areas. Anti-CD5 is a pan T-cell marker that also reacts with a range of neoplastic B-cells，e.g. chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL)，mantle cell lymphoma，and a subset (~10%) of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. CD5 aberrant expression is useful in making a diagnosis of mature T-cell neoplasms. Anti-CD5 detection is diagnostic in CLL/SLL within a panel of other B-cell markers，especially one that includes anti-CD23. Anti-CD5 is also very useful in differentiating among mature small lymphoid cell malignancies. In addition，anti-CD5 can be used in distinguishing thymic carcinoma (+) from thymoma (-). Anti-CD5 does not react with granulocytes or monocytes.
