medical

The CytoSense flow channel of 1 mm square (1.5 x 1.5 mm optional) is large enough to analyse big cells and aggregates such as islets of Langerhans and the instrument is sensitive enough to analyse very small cells down to submicron. The maximum length of the particles is theoretically unlimited allowing long filaments to be analyzed accurately and their morphology to be examined., e.g. the analysis of muscle fiber cells and the localization of fluorescence spots. The scanning data format (comparable to slit-scan technology) allows fast and accurate scanning at a rate of up to 1000 particles per second, yielding accurate scan profiles of scattering and fluorescence of individual particles over their stretched length axis. Example: sperm cell analysis.

Whereas in regular flow cytometric sperm cell analysis the sperm cells need to be discriminated from the rest of the particles by fluorescent staining this is unnecessary with the CytoSense. CytoSense data allows the recognition of sperm cells from other cells and debris by shape only (no fluorescent staining required for that). An example of a scan profile downloaded for each particle is shown in the graph. The CytoClus data analaysis software is tailor made do select such specific pulse shapes very efficiently from other particles and cells. The long tail of the sperm cells shows up in the light scatter signals and allows differentiation from other particle types without fluorescent staining.

Sperm analysis can be done with a single staining step: sperm cell recognition basing on light scatter data and life/dead discrimination using a single staining step. This may accommodate combination with other types of fluorescent staining, e.g. for mitochondria research. Also, the location of the fluorochrome in the cell shows up in the scan data - it is possible to see for instance whether the fluorescent stain is present in the head of the sperm cell only or in the neck region or over the entire cell (as in the picture).

PDF brochures for download: sperm example