New aspects of laser microdissection in research and routine.

Laser microdissection has opened a window to new technologies. The scientific fields of genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics need pure samples for rendering reliable results. Homogeneous sample preparation is a prerequisite for modern molecular analyses, both qualitative and quantitative. Laser microdissection and pressure catapulting (LMPC) is a tool for isolating specific cells from complex tissues in a non-contact and contamination-free manner. Because LMPC technology is an optimal method for obtaining fast and reliable access to single cells, the possibility of automatic isolation of single fetal cells has the promise of being a big step forward in developing protocols for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis.