Charged and uncharged droplets are separated as they fall between charged plates and collect in different tubes. Researchers can use the system either as an analytical tool, counting the number of labelled cells in a population, or to separate the cells for subsequent growth of the selected population. The system can use the second laser at right angles to look at a second fluorescent label or to gauge cell size by analysing scattered light. The great strength of the system is said to be that it looks at large numbers of individual cells automatically and very rapidly. Advantages include its ability to separate out populations with particular surface properties.
Special software tabulates data on quantities, size and type.
Operators can display this data graphically on the computer monitor, before printing and storing it.