A method for cell sorting, comprising: obtaining (405, 410) image signal data of a cell flowing through a channel of a particle flow device; processing the image signal data to produce an image data set representative of an image of the cell, wherein the processing the image signal data includes detecting the presence of the cell prior to producing the image data set representative of the image of the cell, wherein the detecting the presence of the cell includes: calculating a brightness value associated with a magnitude of signal intensity of the image signal data; comparing the brightness value with a first threshold; determining a time derivative value of the brightness when the brightness value exceeds the first threshold; evaluating that the time derivative value is smaller than a second threshold; and when the time derivative value is smaller than the second threshold, continuing to process the image signal data; analyzing the produced image data set to identify one or more properties of the cell from the processed image data; evaluating the one or more identified properties of the cell with a sorting criteria to produce a control command to sort the cell based on one or more cellular attributes ascertained from the image signal data corresponding to the cell during cell flow in the particle flow device; and directing the cell into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device based on the control command. obtaining (405, 410) image signal data of a cell flowing through a channel of a particle flow device; processing the image signal data to produce an image data set representative of an image of the cell, wherein the processing the image signal data includes detecting the presence of the cell prior to producing the image data set representative of the image of the cell, wherein the detecting the presence of the cell includes: calculating a brightness value associated with a magnitude of signal intensity of the image signal data; comparing the brightness value with a first threshold; determining a time derivative value of the brightness when the brightness value exceeds the first threshold; evaluating that the time derivative value is smaller than a second threshold; and when the time derivative value is smaller than the second threshold, continuing to process the image signal data; calculating a brightness value associated with a magnitude of signal intensity of the image signal data; comparing the brightness value with a first threshold; determining a time derivative value of the brightness when the brightness value exceeds the first threshold; evaluating that the time derivative value is smaller than a second threshold; and when the time derivative value is smaller than the second threshold, continuing to process the image signal data; analyzing the produced image data set to identify one or more properties of the cell from the processed image data; evaluating the one or more identified properties of the cell with a sorting criteria to produce a control command to sort the cell based on one or more cellular attributes ascertained from the image signal data corresponding to the cell during cell flow in the particle flow device; and directing the cell into one of a plurality of output paths of the particle flow device based on the control command.