Flow Cytometry: Present and future

Flow cytometry combines many of the advantages of microscopy and biochemical analysis in a single high precision technique for rapid phenotypic analysis and sorting of individual cells, microorganisms and cell organelles. Flow cytometry has evolved over the past twenty five years from a few custom-made instruments designed to meet individual research needs to commercially available instruments, used routinely in many areas of contemporary biomedical research, and for the diagnosis and staging of clinical disease. This review summarizes the principles, advantages and limitations and the major applications of flow cytometry in research and in clinical diagnosis, and outlines some of the opportunities and challenges for the further development of this versatile technology.