Flow cytometry is a laser-based technique for counting, examining, and sorting microscopic particles suspended in a stream of fluid, properties which make it a powerful tool for cell analysis. In drug discovery, it is used for precise distribution and analysis of intact cells and quantitative measurement of intracellular components (such as genes and proteins) and secreted proteins.

The Cell Lab Quanta combines Coulter volume measurement with two-colour fluorescence capabilities for multiparameter cell counting and sizing. Quanta's multiple excitation wavelengths, including UV, allow fluorochrome selection for a variety of multicolour analyses. This makes it well suited for applications such as viability, apoptosis, cell cycle and protein expression.

"Quanta enables researchers to obtain results faster and economically by alleviating the necessity for centralised testing of simple assays in core facilities," explained Brendan Yee, strategic business manager for >Beckman Coulter.

"The system delivers a range of capabilities that is typically only available with larger, more expensive systems."

Growth in the markets for flow cytometry and molecular tests is a direct result of technological advancements in medicine that took place after the human genome sequencing. Flow cytometry can be used for any test procedure that involves the counting and analysis of particles-from individual cells to synthetic microspheres.

According to biochemistry company Dakocytomation, the current global value of the flow cytometry market is much larger than that of the immunohistochemistry (IHC) market, at approximately $600 million (€464 million).