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Multispectral flow cytometry: The consequences of increased light collection
Author(s) -
Feher Kristen,
von Volkmann Konrad,
Kirsch Jenny,
Radbruch Andreas,
Popien Jan,
Kaiser Toralf
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cytometry part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.316
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1552-4930
pISSN - 1552-4922
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.a.22888
Subject(s) - multispectral image , flow cytometry , cytometry , computer science , population , resolution (logic) , detector , flow (mathematics) , sensitivity (control systems) , artificial intelligence , physics , biology , telecommunications , medicine , engineering , immunology , mechanics , environmental health , electronic engineering
In recent years, multispectral flow cytometry systems have come to attention. They differ from conventional flow cytometers in two key ways: a multispectral flow cytometer collects the full spectral information at the single cell level and the detector configuration is fixed and not explicitly tuned to a particular staining panel. This brings about clear hardware advantages, as a closed system should be highly stable, and ease‐of‐use should be improved if used in conjunction with custom unmixing software. An open question remains: what are the benefits of multispectral over conventional flow cytometry in terms of sensitivity and resolution? To probe this, we use Q (detection efficiency) and B (background) values and develop a novel “multivariate population overlap factor” to characterize the cytometer performance. To verify the usefulness of our factor, we perform representative experiments and compare our overlap factor to Q and B . Finally, we conclude that the increased light collection of multispectral flow cytometry does indeed lead to increased sensitivity, an improved detection limit, and a higher resolution. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry