Flow Cytometry Worksheet


Flow cytometry is a technology that measures and then analyses multiple physical characteristics of
single p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s, usually cells, as they flow in a f_ _ _d stream through a b_ _m of light.
The properties measured include a particles’ relative size, relative g_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _y or
internal c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _y, and relative f_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _e intensity. These characteristics are
determined using an optical-to-electronic coupling system. This system records how the cell or
particle s_ _ _ _ _ _s laser light and e_ _ _s fluorescence.

A flow cytometer is made up of three main systems: fluidics, optics and electronics.

The fluidics system transports particles in a stream to the laser beam for interrogation.

The optics system consists of lasers to i_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _e the particles in the sample stream and
optical filters to direct the resulting light signals to the a_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _e detectors.

The electronics system c_ _ _ _ _ _s the detected light signals into electronic signals. These
signals can then be p_ _ _ _ _ _ _d by the computer.

In the flow cytometer, particles are carried to the laser intercept in a fluid stream. Any
suspended particle or cell from 0.2-150 micrometers in size is suitable for analysis. The portion
of the fluid stream where particles are located is called the sample core. When particles pass
through the laser intercept, they scatter laser light. Any fluorescent molecules present on the
particle fluoresce. The scattered and fluorescent light is collected by appropriately positioned l_
_ _ _s. A combination of beam splitters and filters brings the scattered and fluorescent light to
the appropriate detectors. The detectors produce electronic signals. These signals correspond with
the optical signals striking the detectors.


Questions:


Flow cytometry – listening

A Match these words to make collocations:

1 compare                            a cells through the cytometer

2 treat                                   b cells into a single file

3 put                                      c through the laser beam

4 pass                                   d to the blood

5 detect                                 e patients

6 spread                                               f results

7 label                                  g leukaemia

8 align                                   h with a fluorescent antibody


B Listen and decide if the statements are true or false.

1 Dr Wallace meets a lot of patients every day.

2 He mentions three examples of samples he works with.

3 As examples of antigens, CD4, leukaemia and lymphoma antigens are talked about.

4 As part of his job, he looks for ways to eradicate minimal residual disease.

5 The flow cytometers in their laboratory can handle up to 70 000 cells per hour.

6 With their equipment, they can find one cell out of 500 000.

7 They are able to get results in two hours.

8 Cytogenetics and the molecular are mentioned as examples of ancillary tests.


Vocabulary warm-up

1 Particles                           odpovídající, příslušný

2 Fluid                                  vydávat, vyzařovat

3 Beam                                  čočky

4 Granularity                      optická lavice/soustava

5 Complexity                       zpracovat

6 Fluorescence                    granularita

7 Emit                                    částice

8 Scatter                               paprsek

9 Illuminate                         složení (buňky)

10 Appropriate                   kapalina

11 Convert                           světélkování

12 Process                           laločnatost

13 Lenses                             rozptýlit

14 Lobularity                       osvítit, ozářit

15 Optical bench                                přeměnit


Grammar point

Past perfect (předminulý čas)