Applications of first-of-its-kind cytometer system in basic cell biology research and drug discovery. Los Alamos, New Mexico, January 7, 2010—Life Technologies Corporation recently announced the release of the Attune^TM Acoustic Focusing Cytometer, a first-of-its-kind cytometer system that uses acoustic waves to precisely control the movement of cells during analysis. Flow cytometry allows scientists to quantitate and examine cells by passing them through a laser-based detection device. Thousands of cells per second may be analyzed individually, allowing rapid characterization of entire populations of cells and the detection of rare cells. Cell biologists use flow cytometry for a wide range of applications, including the study of cellular protein expression, immunophenotyping, quantifying cellular DNA, and measurement of a variety of cellular phenotypes for the purposes of basic cell biology research and drug discovery. Attune potentially will improve the sensitivity, throughput, and accuracy of flow cytometry-based assays, while also enabling a greater variety of assay types than can be performed on traditional hydrodynamically focused cytometer systems. Additionally, because the Acoustic Focusing Cytometer reduces the need for sheath fluid, the instrument's size and complexity, use of consumables, and generation of waste all are decreased.