Abstract: A method of calibrating a flow cytometer or fluorescent microscope is based on a set of highly uniform microbeads associated with a fluorescent dye in such a way that the microbeads have the same excitation and emission spectral properties as the samples which are to be measured. The calibration values of the microbeads are plotted against the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel or intensity reading for each microbead in the set. From this calibration plot, the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel or intensity reading of the sample is translated into equivalent soluble fluorescent dye molecules per sample particle. The calibration values of the standard microbeads are determined against solutions of the dyes.

Abstract: A kit of highly uniform microbead standards for flow cytometer alignment, compensation, and calibration, comprising a blank and/or auto-fluorescent microbead population, together with two or more series of calibrated microbead populations which match the fluorescence spectra of labeled samples to be measured on the flow cytometer. Also disclosed is a corresponding method to align, compensate, and calibrate a flow cytometer so as to make measurements on corresponding samples comparable and independent of the specific instrument and instrument settings.

Abstract: The synthesis, composition and use of particles exemplified by microbeads of uniform size and character, with covalently bound biological molecules for biological simulation is disclosed.

Abstract: An identification method and identification kit are based upon making up groups of microsized particles normally invisible to the naked eye with each particle in each group being of a selected uniform size, shape and color. Coded identification is established by transferring a population of particles from a selected number of the groups to the item to be identified and then confirming such identification by examining the marked item under high magnification with a light microscope.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a flow cytometer is based on a set of highly uniform microbeads associated with a fluorescent dye in such a way that the microbeads have the same excitation and emission spectral properties as the samples which are to be measured. The calibration values of the microbeads are plotted against the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel for each microbead in the set. From this calibration plot, the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel of the sample is translated into equivalent soluble fluorescent dye molecules per sample particle. The calibration values of the standard microbeads are determined against solutions of the dyes.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a flow cytometer or fluorescent microscope is based on a set of highly uniform microbeads associated with a fluorescent dye in such a way that the microbeads have the same excitation and emission spectral properties as the samples which are to be measured. The calibration values of the microbeads are plotted against the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel for each microbead in the set. From this calibration plot, the relative fluorescence intensity peak channel of the sample is translated into equivalent soluble fluorescent dye molecules per sample particle. The calibration values of the standard microbeads are determined against solutions of the dyes.