A technique for counting and examining microscopic particles, such as cells and chromosomes, by suspending them in a stream of fluid and passing them by an electronic detection apparatus.
Permits simultaneous multiparametric analysis of the physical and/or chemical characteristics of up to thousands of particles per second.
Uses the principles of light scattering , light excitation, and emission of fluorochrome molecules to generate data from particles and cells in the size range of 0.5um to 40um diameter.
Lasers are most often used as a light source in flow cytometry.
Cellular analysis yields quantitative data about the chemical and physical properties of individual cells.
Cells can be physically separated into subpopulations for further analysis at rates up to 5-10,000 cells/second.
Monoclonal antibodies have allowed the development of specific cell surface markers to identify subpopulations of cells.
Fluorescent probes for DNA, RNA, and other cellular components have molecular and cellular level applications.
Most sensitive method of detecting IgG class antibodies.
Next generation flow cytometry involves the detection of cells surface markers using fluorescently labeled antibodies in which cells are quantitatively labeled as positively labeled fluorescent cells pass, or flow, in front of a detector.