Flow cytometry

Definition

Flow cytometry is a laboratory technique used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a population of cells or particles. It uses fluorescently labeled antibodies to analyze cell populations in suspension.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Flow cytometry can analyze thousands of particles per second, providing rapid results.
2. It uses laser technology to excite fluorescently labeled antibodies bound to specific cell markers.
3. Forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) are primary measurements that provide information about cell size and granularity, respectively.
4. Fluorescent dyes or fluorochromes are used to label antibodies, allowing for the detection of multiple markers on individual cells simultaneously.
5. Applications include immunophenotyping, cell sorting, apoptosis detection, and measuring intracellular cytokine production.

Review Questions

• What are the primary measurements taken by flow cytometry?
• How does flow cytometry utilize fluorescently labeled antibodies?
• Name two applications of flow cytometry in immunology research.

Related terms

Fluorochrome: A fluorescent dye used to stain cells for analysis in flow cytometry.

Immunophenotyping:

The process of using flow cytometry to identify specific types of cells based on surface markers.

Cell Sorting: A technique that separates cells into different populations based on their properties as measured by flow cytometry.