title: Virtual-core flow cytometry.
abstract: Traditional flow cytometers use a sheath fluid to position particles or cells for cytometric measurements, but the need for sheath fluid greatly complicates flow cytometric instrumentation. A cytometric detector that is free of the requirements of sheath fluid can simplify the design of flow cytometers and can extend their use into a number of areas. We designed a flow cytometer that uses a combination of three photodetectors to sense the position of a particle in sample stream. The position-sensitive detectors create a virtual core in the sample stream that eliminates the need for sheath fluid. In this article, we demonstrate the efficacy of a virtual-core flow cytometer (VCFC) using test particles, immunofluorescently labeled thymocytes, and raw seawater. The VCFC performs accurate measurements that can be used for a number of uses including environmental monitoring or simple immunology tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98105, USA.
authors.forename: Jarred E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Swalwell
authors.forename: Timothy W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Ger
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van den Engh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D007158:Immunologic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D010839:Phytoplankton / Q000166:cytology*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012623:Seawater; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology*