Folyadékcitometria

Folyadékcitometria, more commonly known as flow cytometry, is a technique used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a sample as it passes through a beam of light. It is a powerful analytical method applied to cell counting, cell sorting, and biomarker detection. In this technique, cells or particles are suspended in a fluid stream and passed single file through a laser beam. As each particle intercepts the laser, it scatters light, and some of the light may be absorbed and re-emitted at a different wavelength (fluorescence).

Detectors collect the scattered light and fluorescence, which are then processed by a computer. The amount and pattern of light scatter provide information about the size and internal complexity of the cell or particle. Fluorescence, if the cells are stained with fluorescent dyes or antibodies, can identify specific molecules or cell types. This allows for the analysis of multiple parameters simultaneously for thousands of cells per second.

Flow cytometry has broad applications across various scientific disciplines. In biology and medicine, it is essential for immunophenotyping, which identifies different types of immune cells, and for diagnosing and monitoring diseases like leukemia and AIDS. It is also used in research for cell cycle analysis, apoptosis detection, and studying cellular signaling pathways. In fields like microbiology and environmental science, it can be used for counting microorganisms or analyzing environmental samples. The ability to analyze individual cells within a heterogeneous population makes flow cytometry an indispensable tool.