Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Flow Cytometry

Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Technique using an instrument system for making, processing, and displaying one or more measurements on individual cells obtained from a cell suspension. Cells are usually stained with one or more fluorescent dyes specific to cell components of interest, e.g., DNA, and fluorescence of each cell is measured as it rapidly transverses the excitation beam (laser or mercury arc lamp). Fluorescence provides a quantitative measure of various biochemical and biophysical properties of the cell, as well as a basis for cell sorting. Other measurable optical parameters include light absorption and light scattering, the latter being applicable to the measurement of cell size, shape, density, granularity, and stain uptake.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

20 entry terms
  • Cytofluorometry, Flow
  • Cytometry, Flow
  • Flow Microfluorimetry
  • Microfluorometry, Flow
  • Cytofluorometries, Flow
  • Cytometries, Flow
  • Flow Cytofluorometries
  • Flow Cytofluorometry
  • Flow Cytometries
  • Flow Microfluorometries
  • Flow Microfluorometry
  • Microfluorimetry, Flow
  • Microfluorometries, Flow
  • Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting
  • Cell Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated
  • Cell Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated
  • Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting
  • Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sortings
  • Sorting, Fluorescence-Activated Cell
  • Sortings, Fluorescence-Activated Cell

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

10 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, economics, ethics, history, instrumentation, methods, standards, statistics & numerical data, trends, veterinary.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

flow cell sorting & FLUORESCENCE-ACTIVATED CELL SORTING: coord with CELL SEPARATION

MeSH Record

History Note

82; FLOW MICROFLUORIMETRY was see FLUOROIMMUNOASSAY 1989-90

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. E01w.370.225.500.363w.342w
  2. E01w.370.225.500.386.350w
  3. E05.196w.712w.516.600w.240.350w
  4. E05.200.500.363w.342w
  5. E05.200.500.386.350w
  6. E05.242.363w.342w
  7. E05.242.386.350w

MeSH Record

NLM Classification

QY 95

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Flow Cytometry. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D005434. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D005434
  2. Flow Cytometry. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_cytometry
  3. Flow Cytometry. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1141429