Table 1.

Comparison between mass cytometry and flow cytometry

Technology	Mass Cytometry	Flow Cytometry
Measurement	Stable mass isotope probes	Fluorescent probes
Application	Biomarkers, immunophenotyping, function, pharmacodynamic (PD)	Biomarkers, immunophenotyping, function, PD
Workflow	Isolate cells Immunostain Determine protein expression or modifications by amount of metal ions observed	Isolate cells Immunostain Compensate fluorophores Determine protein expression or modifications by intensity of fluorescence observed
Multiplex Capacity	~40	~20
	It can be up to120 if more isotopes become available
Sample Barcoding	Yes	Yes
Detection limit	~300 molecules/single cell	100–300 molecules/single cell (varies by fluorophor, without compensation)
Data analysis Complexity	Moderate-high	Low-high (Deconvolution for high- parameter flow)
Information Content / Sample	High	Moderate
Single-cell resolution	Yes	Yes
Throughput	~500 cells/s	~80,000 cells / s
Analytical efficiency	~30%	~90%
Live cell Analysis/Cell Sorting	Not possible	Possible
Cost/Sample	~$150	~$5
Instrument cost	~$650,000	~$500,000
Vendor(s)	Fluidigm	Multiple
Impact	Multiplex Capacity, Specificity, Small Sample Size	Sensitivity, Downstream Live Cell Analysis
Maintenance	1 h daily	15 min daily
	4 h weekly	30 min weekly