From the Guidelines
Flow cytometry is a laboratory technique that analyzes the physical and chemical characteristics of cells or particles as they flow in a fluid stream through a beam of light, and it is particularly valuable in clinical settings for diagnosing and monitoring various diseases, including blood cancers and immune system disorders. This technology works by suspending cells in a fluid and passing them through a laser beam one at a time, while detectors measure how the cells scatter light and emit fluorescence 1. The primary applications of flow cytometry include:
- Identifying and sorting different cell types in a mixed population
- Measuring cell size and volume
- Detecting specific proteins or DNA content within cells
- Diagnosing blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma
- Monitoring HIV infection by counting CD4+ T cells
- Evaluating immune system function
- Analyzing cell cycles
The advantages of flow cytometry in the diagnosis and monitoring of monoclonal gammopathies can be broadly categorized into three main topics, including primary diagnosis, identification of independent prognostic markers, and quantitative evaluation of minimal residual disease (MRD) levels 1. The European Myeloma Network has identified specific indications for flow cytometry in patients with monoclonal gammopathies, including differential diagnosis of neoplastic plasma cell disorders from reactive plasmacytosis, identifying risk of progression in patients with MGUS, and detecting minimal residual disease 1. The use of flow cytometry in clinical settings has the potential to improve patient outcomes by providing detailed information about multiple cellular parameters simultaneously, and it is essential for both research and clinical applications in immunology, hematology, and oncology.
From the Research
Definition of Flow Cytometry
- Flow cytometry is a technique that measures the optical and physical properties of particles, such as cells, as they pass through a sensing region one by one 2, 3, 4.
- It works on the principle of light scattering and fluorescence emission by specific fluorescent probe-labeled cells as they pass through a laser beam 3, 4.
Components and Principles
- A flow cytometer comprises different components, including fluidic, optics, and electronics systems 4.
- The main principle of the flow cytometer is the light scattering and fluorescence emission upon the interaction of the fluorescent particle with the laser beam 4.
- The technique allows for the physical sorting of particles depending on different parameters 3, 4.
Applications
- Flow cytometry has a wide range of applications, including blood analysis, clinical measurements, research, pharmaceutical, and environmental areas 2.
- It is particularly useful for analyzing cell populations at the single cell level, allowing for fast, relatively quantitative, multiparametric analysis 3.
- Flow cytometry is also used in the examination of blood, bone marrow, tissue, and body fluids for the presence or absence of hematological disease 5.
Advantages
- Flow cytometry offers several unique advantages, including high analysis rates, sensitive multiparameter measurements, high-throughput sampling, and accurate counting 2.
- It enables discrete analysis of cell-sized particles at rates approaching 100 kHz, allowing for rapid collection of information on many thousands to millions of cells 2.