Cytometry is the measurement of the characteristics of cells. Variables that can be measured by cytometric methods include cell size, cell count, cell morphology, cell cycle phase, DNA content, and the existence or absence of specific proteins on the cell surface or in the cytoplasm.

What does a flow cytometer measure?

Flow cytometry is a cell analysis technique that was first used in the 1950s to measure the volume of cells in a rapidly flowing fluid stream as they passed in front of a viewing aperture.

How does a cytometer work?

Flow cytometers take in a suspension of monodisperse single, unclumped cells and run them one at a time (single file) past a laser beam where each cell passes through the laser beam, scattered and fluorescent light and are then counted and sorted or further characterized.