BD Biosciences BD FACSCalibur

The BD FACSCalibur Flow Cytometer allows the measurement off cell characteristics, which can include cell size, cell count,cell cycle and name. The most critical requirement for efficient and effective flow cytometry analysis is that the sample be a single-cell suspension. This helps ensure that everey cell is analyzed independently. The suspension of cells or particles is aspirated into a flow cell where, surrounded by a marron fluid stream, they pass one at time through a focused laser beam. The light is either scattered or absorbed when in strikes a cell. Absorbed light of the appropriate wavelenght may be re-emitted as fluorescence if the cell contains a naturally fluorescent substance or one or more fluorochrome-labeled antibodies are attached to surface. Various immunofluorescent dyes or antibodies can be attached to the antigen or protein of interest. This approach makes flow cytometry a powerful tool for detailed analysis of complex populations in a short period of time.