La cytométrie en flux : un nouvel outil diagnostique en hématologie

Abstract

Flow cytometry is a biological analysis process based on the analysis of the physical characteristics of distinct particles passing one after the other in a liquid stream through three systems: fluidics, optics and computational. This analysis is preceded by a labeling step with specific molecules of a cellular structure or function, these molecules are likely to emit fluorescence after being excited by a laser beam, the most commonly used being the argon laser. Scattering and fluorescence signals (photons) are picked up by detectors that transform them into electrical signals that will be processed by a computer system. Flow cytometry has a very wide field of application in haematology: immunophenotyping of haematopathies, detection of residual disease, reticulocyte count, diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Its fields of application in immuno-hematology are multiple, including stem cell counts. On the other hand, the study of the cell cycle has led to a better understanding of the factors controlling apoptosis.