Flow Cytometry (FCM) emerged in the 1970s and evolved from fundamental research into clinical investigation, disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring starting in the 1980s. The first flow cytometer was introduced in China in the early 1980s.

Integrating optics, electronics, fluid mechanics, cytochemistry, biology, immunology, laser technology and computer science, flow cytometry supports both cell analysis and sorting. It enables rapid testing of cell suspensions: cells are arranged in a single file within flowing fluid and detected one by one to acquire light scattering and fluorescence parameters.

The technology can measure cell size, intracellular granularity, detect antigens on cell surfaces and in cytoplasm, as well as intracellular DNA and RNA contents, facilitating single-cell-level analysis of cell populations. It analyzes massive quantities of cells within a short period, collects, stores and processes data to conduct multiparameter quantitative analysis. Widely adopted in hematology, immunology, oncology, pharmacology, genetics, molecular biology and other disciplines, flow cytometry features fast detection, abundant measurable parameters, massive data throughput, comprehensive analysis and flexible assay protocols.