What instruments are necessary to perform spectral flow cytometry?

Spectral flow cytometry is performed using a series of instruments.

The first is a fluidic system that delivers the sample through a chamber or flow cell that aligns the single cells or particles before they are subjected to laser excitation.

The second consists of a set of lasers that perform the excitation of an individual event in order to determine cellular properties relating to size, granularity, and the fluorescence characteristics present.

Light dispersion elements such as prisms or spectrographs are the third type of instrument needed to perform spectral flow cytometry.

The fourth type of instrument are spectral flow cytometry detector arrays such as multi-anode PMT arrays, charge coupled device (CCD) cameras or an array of APDs. These are used with various light dispersive designs for spectral detection.

A sorting device may be added to gather the cells after they have run past the laser.