A device for sorting objects immersed in a flowing medium, the device comprising: - a holographic imaging unit comprising a plurality of holographic imaging elements for providing a plurality of holographic diffraction images, and - a fluid handling unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels, the microfluidic channels comprising an imaging region for conducting flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element for imaging moving objects immersed in the flowing medium, the microfluidic channels furthermore comprising a microfluidic switch arranged downstream of the imaging region for controllably directing each object in the flowing medium into a selected one of a plurality of outlets, the device further comprising: - a processing unit adapted for real-time characterization of the holographic diffraction image obtained for each of the objects when passing through any of the imaging regions, the characterization taking into account at least one predetermined object type signature, the processing unit furthermore being adapted for controlling the microfluidic switch downstream of the imaging region in response to the characterization, and - synchronization means for generating a synchronization signal representative of detected presence of each object in the flowing medium upstream of each of the imaging regions, and in which the processing unit is arranged for performing the real-time characterization in response to the synchronization signal, wherein the synchronization means is incorporated in the holographic imaging elements or wherein the synchronization means is incorporated in the microfluidic channels. - a holographic imaging unit comprising a plurality of holographic imaging elements for providing a plurality of holographic diffraction images, and - a fluid handling unit comprising a plurality of microfluidic channels, the microfluidic channels comprising an imaging region for conducting flowing medium along a corresponding holographic imaging element for imaging moving objects immersed in the flowing medium, the microfluidic channels furthermore comprising a microfluidic switch arranged downstream of the imaging region for controllably directing each object in the flowing medium into a selected one of a plurality of outlets, the device further comprising: - a processing unit adapted for real-time characterization of the holographic diffraction image obtained for each of the objects when passing through any of the imaging regions, the characterization taking into account at least one predetermined object type signature, the processing unit furthermore being adapted for controlling the microfluidic switch downstream of the imaging region in response to the characterization, and - synchronization means for generating a synchronization signal representative of detected presence of each object in the flowing medium upstream of each of the imaging regions, and in which the processing unit is arranged for performing the real-time characterization in response to the synchronization signal, wherein the synchronization means is incorporated in the holographic imaging elements or wherein the synchronization means is incorporated in the microfluidic channels.