Flow cytometry is a high-throughput, laser-based analytical method used to quantify physical and biochemical characteristics of individual cells or particles suspended in fluid as they pass single-file through an interrogation point. Cells are typically labeled with fluorescent probes (e.g., antibody-conjugated fluorochromes) targeting specific surface or intracellular molecules. As each event traverses one or more laser beams, scattered light and fluorescence emissions are detected, converted to electronic signals, and analyzed to derive multiparametric data on cell size, granularity, phenotype, and functional states. The method underpins applications such as immunophenotyping, cell cycle and apoptosis analysis, minimal residual disease detection, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) when coupled to sorting hardware.
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