Flow Cytometry 3 core systems

3 core systems – fluidics, optics, electronics

Fluidics - The Flow Cell (Delivery of sample to laser intercept)

> A flow cell consists of a liquid stream which it wills carries and arrange the cells properly.
> The arrangement processes are important so that the liquid stream can pass as a single file through the light for a purpose of sensing.

> use the principle of hydrodynamic focusing
> sample injected into the center of the sheath flow
> combined flow reduced the diameter
> forcing the cell into the center of stream

Optics – Allow the excitation and the collection of the emitted light

> An optical system and measurement of conductivity are the most commonly used measuring system.
> A used of lamps such as xenon or mercury, a high-power of cooled water lasers like argon, krypton, dye laser, low-power air-cooled lasers like argon will resulting in light signals.

> Signal Detection is achieved by collecting emitted or scattered light.

> Detector are able to measure the brief flashes of light emitted as cells flow past the laser beam as well as fluorescence signals from light into electrical signals that can later be processed by the read-out device.

> The results are determine by measuring the visible and fluorescent light emissions, allowing cell sorting based on physical, biochemical and antigenic trait.

>Fluorescent and SSC signals are collected at right angles to the excitation laser are progressively picked off to facilitate multiple fluorochrome use