The application of flow microfluorimetry to biomedical research and diagnosis: a review

The application of flow cytometric or microfluorimetric techniques to the biomedical sciences is a major growth area. Flow microfluorimetry is the science of analyzing and separating populations of cells (and their sub-cellular components) using fluorescent markers (usually fluorescent antibodies or fluorescent DNA-binding dyes). Each cell is analysed individually allowing assays to be performed on small samples (less than 10,000 cells). Interesting cells can be sorted out to a high degree of purity (up to 99%). Flow microfluorimetric analysis enjoys multidisciplinary use, ranging from cell biology, microbiology and immunology to cell cycle analysis and "flow karyotyping" of cells. Examples taken from both clinical and research settings are discussed.