Open AccessFlow cytometry chamber with 4π light collection suitable for epifluorescence microscopes
Author(s) -
Watson James V.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.990100603
Subject(s) - photomultiplier , microscope , ethidium bromide , fluorescence , fluorescence microscope , materials science , optics , flow cytometry , microscopy , cytometry , chemistry , physics , dna , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , detector , biochemistry
A compact, solid, spherico‐ellipsoidal chamber (SEC), which has approaching 4π (“all around”) light collection, has been developed for flow cytometry. This was mounted onto the stage of a standard fluorescence photomicroscope, and the camera was replaced by a photomultiplier. Both components can be added or removed in minutes. The increased light collection efficiency of the SEC (about 85%) compared with about 4% from standard chambers enabled a fluorescence microscope with a 50 W mercury vapour lamp to “double” as a flow cytometer. The system was tested with microbeads and cells stained for DNA with ethidium bromide, and results were comparable to those obtained with our laser‐based instrument.