An apparatus for isolation and cytometric analysis of cells from a liquid medium, comprising: a cell cage array sized and shaped to be placed between a cell reservoir and an enclosed reservoir, the cell cage array comprising a plurality of cell cages with each cell cage comprising a large opening adjacent to said cell reservoir, and at least one small opening adjacent to said enclosed reservoir; said cell reservoir being for containing the liquid medium comprising a suspension of the cells wherein the cells have dimensions between 1 and 30 micrometers; said enclosed reservoir being configured for receiving the liquid medium through said cell cage array from said cell reservoir; a liquid medium pump connected to said enclosed reservoir to move the liquid medium into cell cages by flowing said liquid medium from said cell reservoir through said cell cage array to said enclosed reservoir, characterized in that each of said cell cages have internal dimensions so that at least one cell fits in each cell cage, said large opening has dimensions large enough for said cell to enter said cell cage, and said at least one small opening has dimensions smaller than said cell, prohibiting said cells from exiting said cell cage into said enclosed reservoir, said cell cages has a diameter between 10% to 90% larger than that of said cell, said large opening has dimensions between 10% to 90% larger than that of said cell, and said at least one small opening has dimensions between 10% to 90% of that of said cell; or wherein each of said cell cages has internal dimensions large enough to fit a plurality of individual cells; wherein said individual cell has a dimension between 1 to 30 micrometers, said plurality of individual cells comprises N cells, said cell cages has a diameter between 10% to 90% larger than said individual cell dimension multiplied by said N cells, said large opening has dimensions between 10% to 90% larger than said individual cell dimension multiplied by said N cells, and said at least one small opening has dimensions between 10% to 90% of said individual cell dimension; and further comprising a mechanical element which when actuated, pushes said cell cage array against a gel layer, thereby said gel layer forming a contiguous barrier to said large openings, isolating each cell or N cells in each of said cell cages, and allowing cytometric analysis of isolated cells or N cells. a cell cage array sized and shaped to be placed between a cell reservoir and an enclosed reservoir, the cell cage array comprising a plurality of cell cages with each cell cage comprising a large opening adjacent to said cell reservoir, and at least one small opening adjacent to said enclosed reservoir; said cell reservoir being for containing the liquid medium comprising a suspension of the cells wherein the cells have dimensions between 1 and 30 micrometers; said enclosed reservoir being configured for receiving the liquid medium through said cell cage array from said cell reservoir; a liquid medium pump connected to said enclosed reservoir to move the liquid medium into cell cages by flowing said liquid medium from said cell reservoir through said cell cage array to said enclosed reservoir,