Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting

∞ generated and posted on 2016.03.20 ∞

Flow cytometry-based method of particle separation, one particle at a time, based upon particle visible characteristics.

In fluorescent-activated cell sorting, cells can be fluorescently marked, for example, using fluorescence-tagged antibodies. During the flow cytometry, tagged cells are then separated from untagged cells into separate containers. The cell suspension is thus divided into separated containers one cell at a time and based upon their ability to diplay specific visual tags.

These tags, due to the specificity of the associated antibodies, distinguish among cells displaying different types of molecules particularly on their surfaces. The result is a highly versatile as well as automated method by which cells can be separated according to type.

Fluorescent-activated cell sorting, or FACS as it is known commercially as well as informally, is an example of a fluorescent-antibody technique. Note, though, that the technique is not wholly dependent upon fluorescent antibodies since other means exist whereby cells and other particles can be distinguished based upon their visual characteristics.