Cell sorting by flow cytometry

Abstract

Flow sorters have become a widespread and vital resource in the biological sciences and beyond. Their main purpose is to retrieve populations of interest from a heterogeneous population for further study. If a cell or particle can be specifically identified by its physical or chemical characteristics, it can be separated using a flow sorter. This chapter discusses the ways in which this may be done, the principles behind particle sorting, and the practicalities of a successful sorting experiment.