Flow cytometry basic principles

Abstract Flow cytometry is a technique for rapidly examining multiple characteristics of individual cells, by recording fluorescence signals emitted from cell-associated reporter molecules, and measuring cellular light scattering properties. This chapter introduces the principles and practice of flow cytometry, and reviews examples from the literature that highlight applications of this experimental tool in the neurosciences. The chapter concludes with protocols for three basic procedures that illustrate some practical aspects of analytical flow cytometry. 

Fluorescence-based microbial detection systems, including epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), flow cytometry (FC) and solid-phase cytometry (SPC), lend themselves to rapid, in-situ analysis of individual microorganisms, without the need for multiplication (Lemarchand et al. 2001 Lisle et al. 2004). This review will focus on the basic principles of SPC, its advantages, disadvantages and applications, and outline some future perspectives. 

---