What is flow cytometry and how is it used in microbiology?
Question
I came across this explanation while trying to understand how labs study bacteria quickly. Turns out, flow cytometry is used to analyze individual microbes, check if they’re alive, and even sort them. It’s faster than traditional methods and super detailed. This answer gave me a solid understanding of how it really works in microbiology labs.
Answer ( 1 )
What is flow cytometry and how is it used in microbiology?
How it Works
Applications in Microbiology
Flow cytometry has numerous applications in microbiology due to its speed, sensitivity, and ability to analyze individual cells within heterogeneous populations:
Advantages
Limitations
Overall, flow cytometry is a versatile and powerful tool that provides rapid, quantitative insights into the properties and functions of individual microbial cells, significantly advancing research and diagnostics in microbiology.
Source: Shapiro, H.M. Practical Flow Cytometry; Journal articles in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Cytometry Part A