What are the applications of flow cytometry?

These are a few of the most notable applications of flow cytometry:

• Immunophenotyping: A technique used to identify and quantify cell populations in blood, lymph, bone marrow, and other heterogeneous samples
• Cell sorting: Involves the use of a specialized fly cytometer that analyzes and characterizes individual cells as they pass through the laser 
• Cell proliferation assays: Calculates cellular metabolic activity and proliferation in response to various stimuli by measuring the decrease in fluorescence
• Cell cycle analysis: Involves the use of fluorescent dyes to analyze replication states and measure the 4 distinct cell cycle phases
• Intracellular calcium flux: Measures the extent to which cells react to external stimuli by monitoring the flux of calcium into the cell 
• Apoptosis: Helps differentiate between 2 types of cell death – apoptosis and necrosis – based on variations in biochemical, morphological, and molecular changes that take place in the dying cells