Flow cytometer and imaging device used in combination.

This report presents a flow cytometer devised by the authors and equipped with a CCD camera to obtain images of selected particles. Each image is linked to a point in the scattergram from which it can be retrieved from memory. The system uses an argon ion laser for flow-cytometric analysis and a diode-pumped pulse laser (532nm) to generate CCD images. Aggregated platelets in a blood sample and casts in a urine sample can be detected by this system. A fast flow rate is suitable for efficient flow-cytometric detection, and image resolution is sufficiently adequate for recognizing aggregated platelets and casts. Flow-cytometric and morphological data are used together to distinguish different types of cells in the same region on the scattergram and identify cells present in extremely small numbers among the majority.