Selection of defined cell types by flow-cytometric cell sorting.

Cell sorting by flow cytometry usually involves preliminary staining with fluorescent dyes or reagents (antibodies or probes) that interact specifically with cellular constituents. Passage through a focused beam of light enables cells to be sorted on the basis of their light-scattering or fluorescence characteristics. Integration with other techniques and refinement of labelling specificity is enabling high-speed sorting to be developed for an expanding range of both analytical and preparative applications--including isolation of specific cells for PCR amplification, establishing high-expressing cell clones and chromosome sorting.