The Use of Directly and Indirectly Labeled Monoclonal Antibodies in Flow Cytometry

Mammalian cells from every tissue have many different types of proteins on their extracellular membranes that maintain their functional integrity. These molecules participate in communication, in metabolism, in locomotion, or in adherence. Antibodies developed against these molecules have provided the means for cellular identification, even though the identity and function of the molecule may not be known. As the functions of more and more of these proteins become known, the relationship to the various cells expressing them becomes understood.