The chapters in CYTOMETRY MCB volumes, including this 4th Edition, provide comprehensive description of particular cytometric methods and review their applications. Some chapters also describe new instrumentation and provide fundamental information on use of new fluorescent probes and on data analysis. Although the term "edition" suggests the update of earlier volumes, in fact, nearly all chapters of the 4th Edition are devoted to new topics. The authors were invited to present not only technical protocols, such as available in other methodology books that specialize in the protocol format, but also to discuss the aspects of the methodology that generally are not included in the protocols. Many chapters, thus, present the theoretical foundations of the described methods, their applicability in experimental laboratory and clinical setting, common traps and pitfalls, problems with data interpretation, comparison with alternative assays, choice of the optimal assay, etc. Some chapters review applications of cytometry and complementary methodologies to particular biological problems or clinical tasks.

The 34 chapters presented in CYTOMETRY 4th Edition cover a wide range of diverse topics. Several chapters describe progress in technology of fluorescence measurement. The novel phenomenon of the surface-plasmon coupled emission (SPCE) presented in one of these chapters, in combination with nanophotonic technology, is expected to open entirely new possibilities for ultra-sensitive detection of fluorescence, likely from single fluorochrome molecules. The chapter on cytometry of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) describes the theoretical foundations- and uncovers further analytical possibilities- of this methodology. The chapter on fluorescent proteins is an exhaustive review of accomplishments and possibilities offered in this rapidly expanding field. The critical assessment of quantitative analytical capabilities of confocal microscopy, optimization of emission optics and further progress in development of laser scanning cytometry instrumentation are the topics of other chapters focused on methodology of fluorescence measurement.

Another group of chapters describe variety of cytometric methods and their applications in studies of cell death, particularly by mode of apoptosis, mechanism of antitumor drug action, and DNA damage. The rapidly growing application of cytometry in phytoplankton is also assessed in great detail. The chapters on biohazard sorting and data analysis guidelines will be of interest to a variety of researchers in different fields.

Cell immunophenotyping represents the most common application of cytometry, particularly in clinical setting. It is not surprising, therefore, that over a third of all chapters of this volume are devoted to methods and applications of multi-color immunophenotyping and probing immune functions of lymphocytes and phagocytes.

The field of cytogenetics and molecular genetics is represented by several chapters. Presented are the methods for telomere length measurement and genomic array technology as well as multiplex amplifiable probe hybridization (MAPH) and multiplex ligation -dependent probe amplification (MLPA), the latter to probe the copy number changes (deletions, multiplications) in genomic DNA. A very exhaustive is the chapter describing the use of subtelometric probes in studies of mental retardation.

In tradition with the earlier CYTOMETRY editions, the chapters were prepared by the researchers who either developed the described methods, contributed to their modification, or found new applications and have extensive experience in their use. The list of authors, thus, is a continuation of "Who's Who" directory in the field of cytometry.

* Comprehensive presentation of cytometric methods covering theoretical applications, applicability, potential pitfalls, and comparisions to alternative assays
* Discusses many new assays developed since the previous edition
* Presents recent developments in cytometric intrumentation/technology