Flow cytometry immunophenotyping
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Flow cytometry is the measurement (-metry) of cellular (cyto-) properties as they are moving in a fluid stream (flow), past a stationary set of detectors.
It is capable of rapid, quantitative, multi-parameter analysis of heterogeneous cell populations on a cell-by-cell basis (single cell analysis).
Immunophenotyping
Immunophenotyping is the analysis of heterogeneous populations of cells for the purpose of identifying the presence and proportions of the various populations of interest. Antibodies are used to identify cells by detecting specific antigens expressed by these cells, which are known as markers. These markers are usually functional membrane proteins involved in cell communication, adhesion, or metabolism. Immunophenotyping using flow cytometry has become the method of choice in identifying and sorting cells within complex populations, for example the analysis of immune cells in a blood sample. Applications of this technology are used both in basic research and clinical laboratories.
Cell markers are a very useful way to identify a specific cell population. However, they will often be expressed on more than one cell type. Therefore, flow cytometry staining strategies have led to methods for immunophenotyping cells with two or more antibodies simultaneously. By evaluating the unique repertoire of cell markers using several antibodies together, each coupled with a different fluorochromes, a given cell population can be identified and quantified. Many immunological cell markers are CD markers and these are commonly used for detection in flow cytometry of specific immune cell populations and subpopulations.
Immune cell differentiation and CD markers
Lymphoid cell differentiation CD markers
T cells, B cells, NK cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
Download the lymphoid cell differentiation pathway card
Myeloid cell differentiation CD cell markers
Monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, platelets, myeloid dendritic cells.
Download the myeloid cell differentiation pathway card
Flow cytometry protocols for cell membrane marker protein staining
Direct flow cytometry (FACS) protocol
Indirect flow cytometry (FACS) protocol
As the number of antibodies used for phenotyping increases so does the complexity caused by the overlapping spectra of the fluorochromes. Controls must also be evaluated alongside the experimental samples to insure the data is collected and interpreted correctly.
View our table of controls required for flow cytometry experiments
View our flow cytometry related protocols and techniques.
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