Principles of flow cytometry

Flow cytometers can analyze a populations of cells, one at a time, at rates of 1,000 to 10,000 cells per second. They can provide distributions of parameters, not just the MCV. A broad variety of measurement parameters is available, ranging from simple sizing to esoteric measures of membrane fluidity or epitope density. The resulting analysis gives low resolution compared to imaging of cells but gives excellent statistical samples of the parameters that it can detect. The parameter values for individual cells can be correlated, and displayed in a variety of multi-dimensional formats. When the analysis reveals subsets of cells, it is possible to sort the detected subsets of cells into separate chambers for further culture or test. Flow cytometers are already in clinical laboratories, performing size analysis in multiparameter hematology instruments. As you have seen, this usage barely scratches the surface of the capabilities of this technology. It now remains for the research clinician to adapt flow cytometry to a broader range of useful clinical applications.