What is the typical parameter for measuring cell size in flow cytometry?

In flow cytometry, the typical parameter for measuring cell size is forward angle scatter (FSC). FSC measures the light that is scattered in the forward direction when a laser or another light source interacts with cells as they flow through the instrument. The amount of forward scatter is directly proportional to the size of the cell: larger cells will scatter more light compared to smaller cells.

This property makes FSC an essential measurement for distinguishing different cell types based on their size during analysis. By using FSC, researchers can gain insights into the physical characteristics of cells, which is crucial for applications such as cell counting, characterization of populations, and sorting.

In contrast, electromagnetic scatter and total fluorescence are not typically used to assess cell size. Electromagnetic scatter does not specifically focus on the size aspect of the cells, while total fluorescence measures the intensity of emitted light from fluorochromes attached to specific cell components rather than the cell's physical dimensions. Side angle scatter (SSC) is more related to cell granularity or internal complexity and is not a primary measurement for cell size.