Flow cytometry on the move. Extending feasibility of the Cytomics FC500: from homologous blood transfusion detection to soluble molecules multiassay quantification

Flow cytometry is commonly used in research and clinical diagnostic for the analysis of properties of cells. Recently, antidoping laboratories worldwide introduced flow cytometry techniques and instrumentation for homologous blood transfusion detection method. Although this unique flow cytometry application is cell based, we explored the feasibility of extending the field of application of our instrument Cytomics FC500 (Beckman Coulter) by using it as a platform for soluble molecules bead-based multiassay detection. Most of the techniques for the measurement of soluble analytes employ ELISA-based technology. Flow cytometry instrumentation also may be used as a readout platform for sandwich immunoassay by using microsphere of different sizes and color for multiplexed immunoassay. This provides some advantages such as 1) utilization of a very small volume of sample, 2)evaluation of multiple samples in a single platform, 3) simultaneous evaluation of different analytes in a single sample.