How useful is flow cytometry technology in analysing diseases?4 answersFlow cytometry technology is highly useful in analyzing diseases. It allows for the detection of specific markers in cells, making it valuable for identifying membrane surface receptors, antigens, ions, and DNA/RNA expression. Flow cytometers can rapidly analyze large numbers of cells and measure multiple parameters from a single cell, enabling the identification of distinctive cell populations in mixed populations. This technology has diverse applications in various fields of biology, including cell biology, immunology, molecular biology, and clinical diagnostics. In the context of diseases, flow cytometry can be used to analyze protein expression levels and functions in immune cells, aiding in the diagnosis and follow-up of primary immunodeficiencies. Additionally, flow cytometry plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment strategies of various cancers, allowing for the classification of leukemias and lymphomas, enumeration of cellular subsets, and assessment of immunological parameters.
How flow cytometry works?5 answersFlow cytometry is a high throughput technology that measures and analyzes the physical, chemical, and biological properties of individual cells or cell-like particles as they flow in a single file at high speed. It uses lasers as light sources to generate scatter and fluorescent light signals from the cells, which are then acquired by detectors. These signals are amplified and converted into electronic signals that are coded in a standard format as a .fcs data file. The fluidic systems in flow cytometers employ hydrodynamic focusing to ensure that cells pass the light sources in a single file. By utilizing the relevant fluorescent and light-scattering profile of individual cells, flow cytometry can analyze and/or sort out cell populations. It has diverse applications in various fields of biology, such as cell biology, immunology, molecular biology, bacteriology, virology, environmental science, and clinical diagnostics.
Can flow cytometry be used to detect and monitor leukemia?5 answersFlow cytometry is a valuable tool for detecting and monitoring leukemia. It is preferred for diagnosing, classifying, staging, and monitoring the progression of the disease, as well as response to therapy. Immunophenotyping using flow cytometry allows for the identification and characterization of leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIPs) at the time of diagnosis, which can be used for measurable residual disease (MRD) monitoring. MRD measured by flow cytometry has been shown to be a strong predictor of outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Additionally, flow cytometry can be used to detect MRD in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), providing relevant prognostic information. Flow cytometry-based MRD monitoring shows good correlation with other methods such as qPCR and can be used to guide risk-adapted therapies and improve outcomes in leukemia patients. Therefore, flow cytometry is a reliable and standardized method for the detection and monitoring of leukemia.
What is flow cytometry?5 answersFlow cytometry is a versatile technology that allows for the measurement and analysis of various properties of individual cells or particles within a population. It uses a laser beam to illuminate cells as they pass through a fluidic system, causing fluorescence and scattered lights to be emitted and reflected from the cells. These lights are then detected and converted into electrical signals, which can be analyzed and sorted based on the cells' fluorescent and light-scattering profiles. Flow cytometry has advanced significantly over the years, with advancements such as in vivo photoacoustic flow cytometry, coherent Raman flow cytometry, and microfluidic flow cytometry, expanding its applications in basic research and clinical practice. It is widely used in fields such as cancer detection, microbiology, and nucleic acid analysis.
How does a cytometer work?4 answersA cytometer works by analyzing single cells flowing in a fluid suspension. The cells are hit by a laser beam, and the light scattered is directly related to the cell's morphological characteristics. There are different types of cytometers, including quantum flow cytometers that detect analytes using photon-number statistics. To provide reliable results without requiring a specially trained technician, flow cytometers have been developed with input units for specifying measurement items, condition selection units for selecting measurement conditions, and measurement units that optically measure particles in a flow cell according to the selected conditions. Integrated optofluidic platforms have also been used in flow cytometry, where light and fluids are engineered synergistically to implement highly sensitive and portable lab-on-chip biochemical sensors. These advancements have led to the development of cost-effective and portable microflow cytometers that can focus, detect, and sort particles with high throughput for proper analysis of biological samples.
What was the historical development of flow cytometry and its significance?4 answersFlow cytometry has a rich historical development and significant impact in the field of cell biology research and clinical analysis. The technique originated from the desire to analyze and categorize cells based on their size and phenotype. The development of flow cytometry began with the invention of a system for counting cells based on the Coulter principle, which determined cell size using impedance measurements. This led to the creation of flow chambers and the use of fluorescence as a cell sorting mechanism. Over the years, flow cytometry has evolved with the incorporation of multiple lasers, specific monoclonal antibodies, and fluorescent molecules for labeling and tagging targets. These advancements have enabled the assessment of various subsets of cell populations with a limited amount of sample. Flow cytometry has become an essential tool in cell-based immunity research, leukemia/lymphoma immunophenotyping, therapy management for HIV/AIDS, and other medical applications.