High-precision fluidics for high-end diagnostics in flow cytometers

Flow cytometers are used for high-throughput cell analysis. In these devices, cells flow past an analysis unit (e.g. voltage or fluorescence read-out) at high velocity. The recorded voltage or light signal depends on the shape, structure, size, and/or color of the cells. In this way, cells with the desired properties can be identified and isolated using cell sorting technology.

Recently, flow cytometry has received special attention as it helps to analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood of cancer patients. With flow cytometry, CTCs can be isolated from the patients’ blood and can therefore offer a minimally invasive alternative to potentially complex and invasive traditional biopsies. The HIV infection stage can also be monitored by analyzing and counting white blood cells, which leads to highly accurate therapies for patients.

In order to further expand the capability of flow cytometry, the industry is continuously working on improving the accuracy, precision, and reliability of such systems. To guarantee reliable and therefore effective results for patients, all internal processes and parameters must be precisely defined, monitored, and controlled. This imposes major challenges to the fluidic system, as a high level of control on the fluidic element of such devices is crucial to achieving highly reliable and reproducible results.

These demanding requirements on precision and the minuscule sample volumes need advanced, accurate sensor technologies to monitor and control processes. Sensirion’s product portfolio includes such sensors to monitor the liquid flow.

Would you like to know more about sensors for flow cytometry? Then attend the following events or contact our sensor experts at industrial@sensirion.com.