Spectral maps of individual cells

Individual cells were imaged at 6 p,m spatial resolution and 4 cm-1 spectral resolution. To achieve acceptable signal-to-noise ratios, 64 or 128 interferograms 

Cytology, that is, the visual inspection of exfoliated cells, is most commonly carried out for smears of cells, which are deposited ( smeared ) directly from brushes, spatulas or other exfoliation devices onto microscope slides. Such smears are unsuitable for spectral analysis, since they contain clumps of cells, cellular debris, erythrocytes and other contamination. However, better methods of cell slide preparations have been introduced into cytology, among them the ThinPrep methods developed by Cytyc, Inc. (see ref. 7), and spin centrifugation deposition techniques. These methods are very good for real exfoliated cell samples,7 since they permit the purification of the cell exfoliate, enrichment in the cells desired for analysis and produce good monolayers for visual cell inspection. 

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