New technologies in cell analysis by flow cytometry.

Automated flow cytometry provides an efficient, sensitive, objective, and quantitative means to analyze cells and their components in suspension. Two major diagnostic applications are the identification of cells in the blood by monoclonal antibodies to surface molecules and the characterization of tumor cell ploidy by nuclear DNA analysis. New technologies permit analysis of small quantities of cells (as in fine-needle aspirates), multiple simultaneous markers, oncogene products, and paraffin-embedded tissue. The technique has become the standard for cells normally in suspension (blood, other fluids). For cells readily obtained in suspension (fine-needle aspirates, nuclei), flow cytometry offers a practical alternative to computer-assisted microscopy.