Képcitometria

Képcitometria, also known as flow cytometry, is a laser-based technology used for analyzing the physical and chemical characteristics of cells or particles in a fluid as they flow in a narrow stream through a beam of light. This technique is widely employed in biological and medical research, clinical diagnostics, and cell sorting applications.

The core principle of flow cytometry involves suspending cells in a fluid and passing them through a laser beam one at a time. As the cells pass through the beam, they scatter light and emit fluorescence, which is detected by sensors. The scattered light and fluorescence signals are then analyzed to determine various properties of the cells, such as size, granularity, and the presence of specific markers on their surface or within their cytoplasm.

One of the key advantages of flow cytometry is its ability to analyze thousands of cells per second, providing rapid and high-throughput data. It can also distinguish between different cell populations based on the expression of specific proteins, DNA content, or other intracellular components. This makes it particularly useful for studying cell populations in complex mixtures, such as blood or bone marrow samples.

In clinical settings, flow cytometry is commonly used for diagnosing and monitoring hematological malignancies, such as leukemia and lymphoma, by identifying abnormal cell populations. It is also employed in immunophenotyping, where the expression of specific cell surface markers is used to classify cells into different types, such as T-cells, B-cells, or natural killer cells.

Beyond clinical applications, flow cytometry is a valuable tool in research, enabling the study of cell signaling, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, and the effects of drugs on cellular processes. Advanced flow cytometers can also perform cell sorting, allowing researchers to isolate specific cell populations for further analysis or experimentation. The versatility and sensitivity of flow cytometry make it an indispensable technique in modern biomedical research and diagnostics.