Flödescytometer

Flödescytometer is a scientific instrument used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a fluid and the particles within it. It is a widely used technique in biological research, medical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development. The basic principle involves passing cells or particles suspended in a fluid stream, one by one, through a laser beam. As each particle passes through the laser, it scatters light in different directions. Detectors measure the intensity and angle of this scattered light.

Additionally, fluorescent molecules, either inherent to the particles or attached as labels, can be excited by the laser and emit light at different wavelengths. These emitted fluorescence signals are also detected. By analyzing the patterns of light scattering and fluorescence, researchers can determine various properties of individual cells or particles, such as their size, shape, internal complexity, and the presence or absence of specific molecules.

The data generated by a flödescytometer allows for the quantitative analysis of cell populations. This includes identifying different cell types within a mixed sample, enumerating specific cell subsets, assessing cell viability, and studying cellular functions. Applications range from analyzing blood cells for disease diagnosis, such as leukemia and AIDS, to sorting specific cell populations for research purposes, and quality control in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The ability to analyze thousands of cells per second makes flödescytometri a powerful tool for high-throughput biological analysis.