Drop-delay measurement using enzyme-coated particles.

A simple technique is suggested for the measurement of drop delay for flow sorting. While the flow cytometer was set to sort a fixed number of particles, the drop-delay setting was changed step by step, and at each step the HRP-coupled particles were sorted into a well of an immunoassay strip. Then the HRP activity of the sorted samples was revealed by routine methods. The maximum level of the enzyme activity shows the proper drop-delay setting. Determination of the drop-delay setting takes only a few minutes. The technique is independent of the type of flow cytometer and does not require any additional equipment.