Flow cytometry
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Flow cytometry is an automated technique used to examine cells that is widely used for the diagnosis and characterization of lymphoma.
Principles
- Label cells with fluorescent antibodies.
- Passed through a channel one-at-a-time (using hydrodynamic focusing[1]) and interrogated with a laser light.
Scatter of light
Types:
- Forward scatter (FS) -- indicative of cell size.
- Side scatter (SS) -- indicative of cell complexity (granularity).
Scatter in a table
Selected white blood cells & scatter:[2]
Forward scatter | Side scatter | |
---|---|---|
PMNs | high | very high |
Monocytes | high | moderate/low |
Lymphocytes | low | low |
Practical considerations
- Tissue must be fresh, i.e. cannot be formalin fixed.
- Viable material may be salvaged from the centre of a large specimen placed in formalin for a short time.
- 2 mm x 2 mm x 2 mm piece of tissue is sufficient.
- 1 mm3 is considered the minimum by Mayo Medical Laboratories.[3]
Interpretation
- See Cytometry.
See also
References
- ↑ URL: http://www.med.umich.edu/flowcytometry/InitialTraining/lessons/lesson1/index.htm. Accessed on: 5 August 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.med.umich.edu/flowcytometry/InitialTraining/lessons/lesson1/images/blood.gif. Accessed on: 5 August 2010.
- ↑ URL: http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Specimen/19499. Accessed on: 27 December 2012.