Rapid Electronic Measurement of Cell Volume and Distribution

Abstract

With suitable calibration factors, the Coulter electronic counter may be used for the determination of the number and volume distribution in a variety of cell suspensions; and with additional corrections, the influence of osmotic strength on cell size may be investigated. By this means, the distribution of volume in a variety of tumor-cell populations was studied. Values that agreed satisfactorily with those obtained by other methods were found. The volumes are not distributed normally in such populations, as there is a relative preponderance of larger cells. The logarithm of the volume was normally distributed, however, and the median and standard deviation of this distribution afforded a convenient method of describing such populations.