CML is diagnosed through a combination of blood tests and genetic analyses, including:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): Showing elevated white blood cell counts.
- Blood Smear: Examining blood cells under a microscope.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy: Assessing the number and type of cells in the bone marrow.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): Detecting the BCR-ABL gene fusion, which is specific to CML.
- Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH): Identifying the Philadelphia chromosome in blood or bone marrow cells.