One hundred and ninety well-characterized acute and chronic leukaemias were studied for the expression of CD1a antigen by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). CD1a was detected on 28 per cent of mature B cell lymphoproliferative disorders, 26 per cent of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias (ANLL), 21 per cent of chronic granulocytic leukaemias in blast crisis (CML-BC), 53 percent of T acute lymphocytic leukaemias (T-ALL) and in only one out of 35 common acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (c-ALL). In some cases the expression of the CD1a antigen on the surface of leukaemic cells showed a spontaneous fluctuation after a short period of incubation in vitro. CD1b and CD1c molecules were also detected on B cells and acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias. The presence of CD1 antigens was confirmed using a dot blot assay (DBA) on the lysate of leukaemic cells.