virtauscytometrit

Flow cytometry is a powerful technique used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a particle or cell as it flows in a fluid stream through a beam of light. The particles are typically cells, but can also include beads or other microscopic particles. The method allows for the rapid analysis of a large number of individual cells, typically in the thousands to tens of thousands per second. A flow cytometer works by suspending cells in a stream of fluid and passing them one by one through a laser beam. As each cell passes through the laser, it scatters light and may emit fluorescence if it has been labeled with a fluorescent dye or antibody. The scattered light and fluorescence are detected by sensors and converted into electrical signals. These signals are then processed and analyzed by a computer, providing information about the size, granularity, and fluorescence intensity of each cell. This allows researchers to identify and quantify different cell populations within a sample, analyze cellular function, and sort specific cell types for further study. Applications of flow cytometry are diverse, spanning immunology, cell biology, cancer research, and clinical diagnostics.