Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is a technique where the light scattered from cells or particles is detected and used to to identify or measure properties of the cells or particles. Some flow cytometers are capable of sorting cells into different populations.  Others are used for analysis. In many cases the cells analyzed by flow cytometry are stained with fluorescent labels.  These labels are often antibodies that bind to specific proteins on the cell surface.          

Flow cytometry is used in both research and biomanufacturing and with a variety of cell types.  It can be used in plant biology and marine biology.  In biotech, flow cytometry is often used in combination with cell and gene therapy processes.

Some of the analyses that can be carried out by flow cytometry include:

• Measuring apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• Cell adherence
• Cell pigments
• The presence of cell surface proteins
• Cell viability
• Circulating tumor cells
• Chromosome analysis
• DNA copy number
• Protein expression

The flow cytometry certificate at Frederick Community College includes the following hands-on skills:

• Aseptic Technique
• Flow cytometry - preparing and loading samples, calibrating the instrument, using the flow cytometer, data collection
• Mammalian Cell Culture
• Analysis of flow cytometry data - gating, FlowJo

Image credit: Savita Prabhakar, PhD, Frederick Community College, doi 10.5281/zenodo.10914560