What is flow cytometer?

Flow cytometry is a laser-based, biophysical technology employed in cell counting, cell sorting, biomarker detection and protein engineering, by suspending cells in a stream of fluid and passing them by an electronic detection apparatus. It allows simultaneous multiparametric analysis of the physical and/or chemical characteristics of single cells flowing through an optical and/or electronic detection system. Common uses include identifying and quantifying different cell populations in a sample, such as blood or tissue, as well as assessing cell size, viability, and internal complexity. It's widely used in research, clinical diagnostics (e.g., leukemia/lymphoma phenotyping), and drug discovery.