Flow cytometry

Flow cytometry (FC) is a technique used to detect and measure the physical and chemical characteristics of a population of <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a> or particles.
In this process, a sample containing cells or particles is suspended in a fluid and injected into the flow <a href="/facts/Cytometry/ccN2U17H">cytometer</a> instrument. The sample is focused to ideally flow one cell at a time through a laser beam, where the light scattered is characteristic to the cells and their components. Cells are often labeled with fluorescent markers so light is absorbed and then emitted in a band of wavelengths. Tens of thousands of cells can be quickly examined and the data gathered are processed by a computer.
Flow cytometry is routinely used in basic research, clinical practice, and <a href="/facts/Clinical_trial/q8LMr832">clinical trials</a>. Uses for flow cytometry include:

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Cell_counting/o6gxP6QL">Cell counting</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Cell_sorting/DccR9f3k">Cell sorting</a></li>
<li>Determining cell characteristics and function</li>
<li>Detecting <a href="/facts/Microorganism/pysJYcE2">microorganisms</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Biomarker/nk2LgXtq">Biomarker</a> detection</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Protein_engineering/veRAR1SF">Protein engineering</a> detection</li>
<li>Diagnosis of health disorders such as <a href="/facts/Hematological_malignancy/tzyyShka">blood cancers</a></li>
<li>Measuring <a href="/facts/Genome_size/m30NcTL2">genome size</a></li></ul>
A flow cytometry analyzer is an instrument that provides quantifiable data from a sample. Other instruments using flow cytometry include cell sorters which physically separate and thereby purify cells of interest based on their optical properties.

Flow cytometry open-in-new

Flow cytometry