Cellular image analysis and imaging by flow cytometry.

Imaging flow cytometry combines the statistical power and fluorescence sensitivity of standard flow cytometry with the spatial resolution and quantitative morphology of digital microscopy. The technique is a good fit for clinical applications by providing a convenient means for imaging and analyzing cells directly in bodily fluids. Examples are provided of the discrimination of cancerous from normal mammary epithelial cells and the high-throughput quantitation of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The FISH application will be enhanced further by the integration of extended depth-of-field imaging technology with the current optical system.