<unk>  <unk>  is a technique used to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of a population of cells or particles. In this process, a sample containing cells or particles is suspended in a fluid and injected into the<unk>  cytometer instrument. The sample is focused to ideally<unk>  one cell at a time through a laser beam, where the light scattered is characteristic to the cells and their components. Cells are often labeled with fluorescent markers so light is absorbed and then emitted in a band of wavelengths. Tens of thousands of cells can be quickly examined and the data gathered are processed by a computer.<unk>  is routinely used in basic research, clinical practice, and clinical trials. Uses for<unk>  include: * Cell counting * Cell sorting * Determining cell characteristics and function * Detecting microorganisms * Biomarker detection * Protein engineering detection * Diagnosis of health disorders such as blood cancers A<unk>  analyzer is an instrument that provides quantifiable data from a sample. Other instruments using<unk>  include cell sorters which physically separate and thereby purify cells of interest based on their optical properties.
Flow cytometry
Mixed lymphocyte reaction
Immunophenotyping
Immunostaining
Direct fluorescent antibody
Immunofluorescence
Reticulocyte production index
Immunohistochemistry