Flow cytometry provides information about various cellular processes. Operationally, flow cytometers can be regarded as high speed automated microscopes. The technique involves the use of a beam of laser light passing through a liquid stream. The stream contains cells or other particles, moving past the beam in single file. Up to 1,000 cells can move past the laser beam each second. The laser contacts the cells for only a few microseconds, which is not long enough to damage the cells. Thus, viable cells can be examined and viability maintained for further experimentation. The signals are emitted by the cells are mechanically detected and stored for subsequent analysis.

The term flow cytometry is derived from the measurement (meter) of single cells (cyto) as they flow past the detectors. The rapid flow and detection of multiple properties of each cell (up to six structural and functional phenomenon at the...