Apparatus and method for the detection and classification of articles using flow cytometry techniques

摘要

This invention concerns a flow apparatus and method for the detection of particles in a sample. Particles are moved, substantially one at a time, in a fluid flow stream. An incident beam of illumination is provided so as to be directed at the particles in the flow stream. Data associated with each moving particle as it passes through the beam of illumination is detected. A class of particles is established, these particles having common characteristics based on the data detected from such class of particles. The data is then stored. Such stored data is compared to data detected from sample particles of an unknown class. A determination is then made that particles from the unknown class belong to the established class as a result of matching respective data.