What is CyTOF?

CyTOF (Cytometry by Time-of-Flight) is a type of mass cytometry that utilizes rare earth metal-labeled antibodies to quantify multiple proteins at the single-cell level. Unlike traditional flow cytometry which uses fluorescent labels, CyTOF uses mass spectrometry to detect and quantify the metal tags, reducing spectral overlap and allowing for the simultaneous measurement of a larger number of markers (30-50 or more). It is commonly used in immunology, cancer research, and drug discovery to deeply profile cell populations, identify novel cell subsets, and understand complex biological systems.