HAEMATOLOGY
Flow cytometry and AI: shaping the future of haematological diagnostics
Integrating artificial intelligence into flow cytometry workflows offers huge potential benefits both in research and clinical diagnostics. Here, Shahnawaz Memon looks at current and future applications.
Flow cytometry is an advanced analytical technology that has become a vital tool in modern biological research and clinical diagnostics. This technique allows the detailed analysis of individual cells or particles in suspension, giving information on cellular properties such as size, complexity, and biomarker expression. It has diverse applications, including immunophenotyping, cell sorting, and apoptosis studies, making it a core of
haematology and oncology. Now, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in flow cytometry has transformed its capabilities. AI-driven tools can speed up the process while offering improved accuracy and depth of interpretation, enabling real-time analysis and personalised medicine.
This article looks into the basics of flow cytometry, its role in haematological malignancies, and how AI could facilitate
change. Finally, this paper discusses future prospects and what challenges the developing technology might introduce.
Flow cytometry
Flow cytometry is the science of analysing the physical and chemical properties of individual cells or particles suspended in a fluid. It’s applied in both biological research and clinical diagnostics.1-12 n Fluidics. The fluidics system ensures that the cells line up in a single file to the laser beam. This makes measurement possible because the laser can only interact with one cell at a time. In this process, a method called hydrodynamic focusing has been used to ensure a sample stream is reduced or narrowed by sheath fluid which moves in opposite directions to ensure cells pass through in a single stream.10
n Optics. The optical system is the heart of flow cytometry. It includes lasers that excite the fluorescent markers attached to cells and detectors that measure various light parameters. Light scattering provides information on cell size and granularity (internal complexity), while fluorescence reveals specific molecular markers on or within the cell.
n Electronics. The electronics decode the optical signals produced by the detectors into digital information.11,12 This makes it possible to acquire and process real-time data qualitatively and quantitatively from the sample.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in flow cytometry has transformed its capabilities. AI-driven tools can speed up the flow cytometry process, offering improved accuracy and depth of interpretation.
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Applications of flow cytometry Flow cytometry’s multiplicity is the strength behind its wide application in almost all laboratory disciplines; for example: n Immunophenotyping determines immune cell subsets, facilitating the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases
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