The diagnostic and therapeutic applications of flow cytometry in male infertility

Although in recent years flow cytometry (FCM) has become common place in clinical haemotopathology laboratories, application of this technology in the andrology laboratory remains largely unrealized. Flow cytometry is the semiautomated study of the antigen profile of cells using the Scatchard principle of antigen-antibody binding and fluorochrome-based detection systems. Recent technical advances in lasers, monoclonal antibodies, fluorochromes, and computer-based color compensation algorithms have expanded the usefulness of FCM. This overview presents the background of FCM, discusses various applications, and speculates on the directions of future developments with special relevance to the field of andrology. The availability of high-quality methods should be a prime factor in convincing andrologists and infertility clinics that FCM may have certain advantages over traditional methods and that it does indeed have much to contribute to the andrology laboratory and male infertility clinic.