The process of flow cytometry involves several key steps:
1. Sample Preparation: Cells are collected from the patient, often from blood, tissue biopsies, or cervical smears. The cells are then treated with antibodies that are tagged with fluorescent dyes.
2. Staining: The fluorescently-labeled antibodies bind to specific proteins on the cell surface or within the cell.
3. Flow Chamber: The stained cells are suspended in a fluid and passed through a flow chamber, where they encounter one or more laser beams.
4. Detection: As cells pass through the laser beam, the fluorescent dyes are excited and emit light. Detectors capture this emitted light, and the data is processed to provide information about the characteristics of each cell.
