Image Cytometry for the Flow Cytometrist: When Image Really is Everything

The Presenters

Andrew Filby, PhD
Director of the Newcastle University Cytometry and Single Cell Core Technology Unit
Newcastle University

David Novo
President
De Novo Software

Session Summary

The word "cytometry" is a fusion of two Greek words, "kytos" meaning "basket/cell" and "metria" meaning to "measure." Cytometry itself can be conducted in many ways, but whatever the chosen approach, it almost always involves measuring the properties of single cells/particles from within large populations with the sole aim of decoding the heterogeneity inherent to all biological systems. 

While non-image-based Flow Cytometry (NIFC) is a powerful, multi-parameter, high-throughput cytometric technology with widespread applications, it cannot provide the spatial/morphometric information often essential to addressing key biological questions. As such, a number of imaged-based cytometric approaches exist that can be grouped into a relatively broad field known as "Imaging Cytometry" (IC). This tutorial is primarily aimed at cytometrists who have a background in NIFC and want to understand the basic principles of IC and how it can be pivotal in decoding biological heterogeneity at the cellular level. 

This session will provide a generic definition and the underlying principles of IC as well as outlining the key stages in a typical IC experimental pipeline. Application examples will be included where appropriate in order to provide context to the participants. A recurring theme throughout the tutorial will be to compare and contrast IC with NIFC in order to provide a foundation for introducing IC as a potentially new concept to the attendees by building on their existing knowledge/experience.

CMLE Credit: 1.5