| abstract |
A method for calibrating a flow cytometry instrument tor using said instrument to obtain at least one light-related signal from particles passing through the instrument for analysis, which method comprises:n passing calibration particles, having characteristics related to the particles expected to be tested, in a liquid flow stream so that each calibration particle passes, substantially one at a time, through an incident beam of light; detecting a light signal from the calibration particles passing through the beam of light; detecting a noise signal from the calibration particles passing through the beam of light; determining the ratio of the detected light signal to the detected noise signal; reporting the signal as a measured separation value between the light signal and the noise signal; comparing the measured separation value to a predetermined separation value which represents a threshold for minimum instrument performance; and adjusting, if the predetermined separation value has not been attained, the operation of the instrument, while the calibration particles are passing. |