Differential Light-Scattering Detection in an Arc Lamp-Based Flow Cytometer

The light scattering of biological cells is a complex function of their size, shape, composition, and internal structure. 5 The relative contribution of these various cell characteristics vary significantly with the scattering angle. Generally, forward scattering, i.e., scattering at small angles, depends primarily on cell size, whereas structure becomes relatively more important at larger scattering angles. Thus, flow cytometric measurement of the light scattering of biological cells at both low and large scattering angles has proved an efficient method for differentiating between different cell types. 1 , 3 , 6 , 8 , 9 In particular, the method is commonly employed to discriminate between different classes of leukocytes. Such measurements are routinely carried out with various models of commercial flow cytometers having light-scattering detection close to the forward direction and at right angles to the laser beam.