Microbiology.

Although flow cytometry can detect microorganisms rapidly in low concentrations in some clinical samples, it has not proved cost-effective for clinical use in this application. Adaptation of fluorescence multiplexing methodology recently developed for flow cytometric bead immunoassays, and the introduction of hybrid cytometers based on microfluidic technology, however, may make it possible to place cost-effective cytometric apparatus in clinical microbiology laboratories in the near future.