Recent developments in flow cytometry.

Flow cytometry has experienced considerable expansion of available parameters during the last years. Various new techniques that allow the direct analysis of antigen-specific lymphocytes by direct labeling with antigen or according to functional parameters following in vitro antigen stimulation will have enormous impact on immunological research, diagnosis, and therapy. This article concentrates on the basic principles and applications of these important technological developments in flow cytometry and focuses on the analysis of specific lymphocytes.