Technical evaluation of NGS-based MRD detection in CD34⁺/CD117⁺ cells. (A) Correlation of MRD detection using NGS or DC analysis in sorted CD34⁺/CD117⁺ PB cell samples (n = 267). (B) NGS-based MRD positivity rates in relation to the corresponding CD34⁺/CD117⁺ DC level in PB. The cutoff for NGS-based MRD quantification is indicated at 0.01% VAF. (C) Detection of the Kasumi cell line in PB using NGS-based quantification of the KIT N822K variant (red dots) or by CD34⁺ DC analysis (blue dots). (D) Correlation of NGS-based MRD detection in sorted CD34⁺ cells of matched PB and BM samples (n = 35) as templates for analysis. (E) Quantification of variant allele frequencies (%) in CD34⁺ cells using matched PB or BM samples (n = 35) for NGS. (F) Quantification of mutant alleles by NGS using sorted CD34⁺/CD117⁺ PB cells or unsorted material of matched follow-up samples (n = 197). Box plots represent median values with interquartile range; box whiskers represent minimum to maximum values.