Each specimen passes individually through a fluid-filled detection system, allowing optical measurements to be associated with that specimen rather than with a mixed sample. The instrument records time of flight, extinction, and fluorescence, creating a measurement profile based on physical and fluorescent properties. This supports consistent comparison among specimens during phenotypic screening.
These optical signals provide complementary information for analyzing specimens. Time of flight and extinction contribute physical measurements, while fluorescence captures an optical property that may distinguish specimens within the sample. Recording the signals together lets researchers evaluate multiple characteristics and define selection criteria without relying only on visual inspection or manual handling.
User-defined gates establish the measurement ranges or combinations that identify specimens for collection. After the instrument records each specimen’s optical signals, the gating criteria determine which specimens are directed into collection vessels. Adjusting these criteria allows the same system to support different experimental selection goals based on physical or fluorescent characteristics.
Individual passage links each recorded optical profile to a single biological specimen. That organization is important when researchers need to compare phenotypic differences or separate selected specimens from the broader sample. It also contributes to consistent processing, helping reduce variability associated with manual handling when experiments require screening at larger scale.
A sample is introduced into the fluid-based system so specimens can pass through the detection region individually. The instrument records their time-of-flight, extinction, and fluorescence signals, after which user-defined gates classify the measurements. Specimens meeting the selected criteria are directed into collection vessels for subsequent analysis or experimental use.
The Copas Biosort is particularly relevant when experiments require rapid, consistent screening or separation of large biological specimens, including nematodes, embryos, or cell aggregates. Its applications include developmental biology, genetics, toxicology, and drug discovery. Researchers can use the resulting measurements and collections to support phenotypic comparisons and scaled biological experiments.
In developmental biology, the system can screen and collect embryos or other specimens according to measured physical and fluorescent properties. In genetics, those measurements can support comparisons among phenotypes and the separation of selected specimens. Automated processing increases experimental scale while reducing manual handling, which helps improve consistency and reproducibility across biological studies.
For toxicology and drug discovery, automated measurement and sorting can support rapid phenotypic screening across biological samples. The instrument records standardized optical properties and applies consistent selection gates, allowing researchers to identify and collect specimens that meet defined criteria. Reduced manual handling can make larger experiments more practical and improve reproducibility when comparing treatment-related outcomes.