Flow Cytometers

Flow cytometer machines are used in the Flow cytometry (FCM) process meant for measuring certain physical and chemical characteristics of cells or particles by a beam of laser light while they pass (flow) in a fluid stream. It is a common lab apparatus used as biotechnology lab equipment to measure the amount of DNA in cells.

Basic Structure of Flow Cytometer

Flow cytometers are the machines to measure characteristics of cells (cyto) suspended in a flowing saline stream. The basic structure of flow cytometers consists of five principle components. These include:

• A source of light (Laser)
• A flow cell or flow chamber. It is a liquid stream, commonly referred to as sheath fluid. It carries and aligns the cells so that they pass single file through the light beam for sensing
• Optical system to focus light of different colors on to the detectors. These can be mercury or xenon lamps; high-power water-cooled lasers such as argon, krypton, or dye laser; low-power air-cooled lasers like argon, red-HeNe, green-HeNe, or HeCd (UV)); blue, green, red, violet diode lasers resulting in light signals
• Electronics (light detectors) to amplify and process the resultant signals.
• A computer to conduct analysis of the signals.

Modern Flow Cytometry Machine

There are basically two types of flow cytometry machines- one, the basic bench top type flow cytometer which can only analyze cells, and second, the more complex flow cytometers that can analyze cells and also physically sort them. They are called Cell Sorters.

Modern flow cytometers manufacturers make such machines that can analyze several thousand particles every second in "real time." These flow cytometers can also actively separate and isolate particles having specified properties. The process of collecting data from samples through flow cytometer is known as 'acquisition'. Acquisition is mediated by a computer connected to the flow cytometer as well as the flow cytometry software which manages the digital interface with the cytometer. The present day flow cytometry software is capable of adjusting parameters like voltage, compensation, etc. for the sample being tested. They also assist in showing initial sample information while acquiring sample data to insure that parameters are set correctly.

The flow cytometry machines generally have multiple lasers and fluorescence detectors. The increased number of lasers and detectors make possible multiple antibody labeling. This also helps in precisely identifying a target population by their phenotypic markers. Some of the flow cytometer instruments can even take digital images of individual cells. This allows the analysis of fluorescent signal location within or on the surface of cell. As compared to the older flow cytometers (which were more of experimental equipment), the modern and more technologically advanced flow cytometry machines have made widespread applications possible for clinical as well as research purposes. We have a vast database of flow cytometer manufacturers. Send Online Enquiry for all types of flow cytometer instruments including flow cytometric analysis system and multicolor flow cytometry machine to get immediate response from genuine and pre verified flow cytometer manufacturers.

Applications of Flow Cytometer

The significance of flow cytometers is growing day by day both in scientific research as well as in diagnosis. Flow cytometers are now used routinely in many labs to detect the presence of specific surface and intracellular markers. They are also used to measure metabolic activity and DNA content. The cell sorting applications of flow cytometers include separation of large numbers of cells for functional studies or chromosomes for preparing gene libraries as well as direct cloning of single rare transfected or hybridoma cells into each well of a tissue culture plate. In short, flow cytometry machines find application in both- in research and in clinical laboratories.

Clinical Applications of Flow Cytometer

Following are the major applications of flow cytometers in a clinical laboratory-

• Determining CD34 counts for Hematopoietic Reconstitution
• To monitor organ transplant patients for rejection.
• Reticulocyte Counts
• To monitor AIDS patients
• Diagnosis of Paroxymal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria(PNH)
• DNA analysis of S-phase fraction of solid tumors
• To monitor bone marrow and peripheral blood samples.
• Detection of MRD in ALL using multiparameter immunological detection. It is capable of detecting one leukemic cell among 10,000 normal cells.
• Yeast and Algae Analysis

Research Applications of Flow Cytometer

The application of flow cytometry is increasing on a wide scale in the field of drug discovery. Due to the multiparameter capability, antibodies can be used to identify cells and cytokines or cytokine receptors to identify specific populations of functional cells. This research can lead to increased understanding about how cells communicate among themselves. Fluorescent probes may also be used in many physiological functions like metabolic processes, ion channels, organelles and intracellular pH. These assays are very important in understanding the effects of drugs on cell physiology. Molecular phenotyping use in situ PCR, in situ hybridization and the use of fluorescent markers for isolation of transfected cells like green fluorescent protein, are also significantly increasing.

Other Biotechnology Equipment