Ultrahigh-Throughput, Real-Time Flow Cytometry for Rare Cell Quantification from Whole Blood.

Summary

This paper presents a novel ultrahigh-throughput flow cytometry platform integrating viscoelastic microfluidics with CMOS linear image sensor detection, capable of real-time quantification of fluorescent species at rates exceeding 400,000 per second. The system includes custom software for real-time signal processing and histogram generation. Validation using patient blood samples demonstrated practical utility for rare event detection, achieving 6 CTC per million cells sensitivity with clinically relevant volumetric throughput.

UK applicability

This is a laboratory analytical technology with potential application in UK clinical diagnostics, particularly for cancer screening and monitoring programmes. However, the abstract provides no information on clinical validation in UK populations or alignment with UK NHS diagnostic standards.

Key measures

Analytical throughput (species per second); CTC sensitivity (cells per million blood cells); volumetric throughput (mL/min); fluorescence intensity distribution

Outcomes reported

The study demonstrated a microfluidic flow cytometer capable of analysing fluorescent particles and cells at throughputs exceeding 400,000 species per second in real time. The platform achieved detection of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) at a sensitivity of 6 CTCs per million blood cells with a volumetric throughput of over 3 mL/min.

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