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Flow cytometry is a method for quarantining components or structural features of cells primarily by optical means. Although it makes measurements on one cell at a time, it can process thousands of cells in a few seconds. Since different cell types can be distinguished by quantitating structural features, flow cytometry can be used to count cells of different types in a mixture.
Flow cytometers have been commercially available since the early 1970's and their use has been increasing since then. The most numerous flow cytometers are those used for complete blood cell counts in clinical laboratories - - these do not employ fluorescence.
Lymphomas and leukemia's are intensively studied for surface markers of diagnostic and prognostic value. Although less expensive alternative technologies are under development, until the present time, flow cytometry has been the method of choice for monitoring CD4 lymphocyte levels in the blood of AIDS patients.
