Abstract: An optical screening method and apparatus for identifying both the morphology and selected characteristics or properties expressed by cells. The cells are combined with one or more different sets of microspheres, each set having a reactant bond thereto which will bind to a specific molecule which can exist on one or more types of the cells. The cells and microspheres are formed as a smear on a slide, stained with a histological type stain and optically viewed to identify the type of cells to which the different sets of microspheres do or do not bind. The different sets of microspheres are optically differentiated by having different optical characteristics, such as size, shape, color or combinations thereof. A fast cell screening method is provided by the observation of clumping of the cells and microspheres, where present.