Flow cytometry is one of the ways that have been employed to increase assay volumes in cell examination. It involves the suspension of cells in a fluid as they are exposed to an electronic detector. This method is now being optimized through high throughput technologies.
Development of New Technologies
The use and development of new instrumentation has led to new capabilities when it comes to assay volumes. Initially, these capabilities could not be realized with the old type of high throughput screening.
Data Analysis
New technologies combine HTS systems with software that can help do a high volume of analysis in seconds. New systems can perform assays on more than 40 wells in about a minute. This translates to a high volume of assays in less than 10 minutes.
This level of scientific analysis would not be possible with only high throughput screening and without proper data analysis. Data analysis software that can translate the assays into well documented findings is needed.
Applications
The high throughput technologies using the flow cytometry has been used in many biological such as protein analysis (G- protein receptor screening) and other important applications such as antibody screening and receptor binding assays. Flow cytometry is one of the preferred systems to used to do high volume assays.
Society for Laboratory Information and Automation Systems 