How does the ImageStreamX differ from high content imaging systems (HCS) and laser scanning microscopes?
The most fundamental difference is that the ImageStreamX images cells in suspension rather than on slides or plates, so it is much better suited to blood, cells in other bodily fluids, and non-adherent cell cultures. More significant, however, is that HCS and laser scanning systems are optimized to image only a few hundred cells per sample in a semi-quantitative manner. These systems are typically used in pharmaceutical screening environments with cellular assays that employ homogeneous cell cultures, just a few strong fluorescent markers, and that have very distinct readouts. In contrast, the ImageStreamX is designed to image tens of thousands of cells per sample with high fluorescence sensitivity and up to 12 high resolution and highly quantitative images per cell. These capabilities enable detailed studies of complex and/or subtle biological phenomena in highly heterogeneous cell samples. The ImageStreamX can be employed for HCS with the addition of the autosampler option.
