Cytometry is a general name for a group of biological methods used to measure various parameters of cells. Parameters which can be measured by cytometric methods are cell size, the stage of the cell cycle, the DNA content of the cell, the existence or absence of specific proteins on the cell surface or in the cytoplasm, to name but a few.
In image cytometry the cell samples are fixed and static; they are usually analyzed by means of microscopy. An alternative technique that can be used is laser scanning cytometry.
In flow cytometry a large number of cells flow in liquid and are analyzed by a laser beam. Image cytometry allows in-depth analysis of the shape and morphology of individual cells, whereas in flow cytometry a large number of cells can be analyzed quickly, albeit without detailed information as to the morphology of individual cells.