The steps involved in performing flow cytometry are:

• Sample of cells is suspended in fluid
• Sample may be treated with dyes to further define cell types
• Sample is run through flow cytometer
• Fluid in which cells are suspended pass through narrow channels so that they are in a single file as they move past detectors
• Laser(s) and/or photo detectors identify characteristics that are specific to certain cell types
• Signals are then amplified and sent to a computer
• Information is then presented as a graph