Wide-field Fluorescent Microscopy and Fluorescent Imaging Flow Cytometry on a Cell-phone

The overall goal of this procedure is to convert a cell phone camera to a fluorescent microscopy platform or a fluorescent imaging cytometer. First, the fluorescent emission is collected through an attached lens that has been placed between the cell phone, camera unit and the sample of interest. Next, a simple plastic filter within the attachment rejects the scattered excitation light, which creates a dark field background for fluorescent imaging, converting the camera phone into a fluorescent microscope or imaging cytometer.

In the final step, a picture or video is taken of the fluorescent particles of interest using the camera in night mode. Ultimately, fluorescent beads or cells can be imaged and characterized by the cell phone camera. The main advantage of this technique over existing masses, like using conventional fluorescent microscope, is that cell phone based microscope is compact, lightweight, and cost effective, and has potential for use in point of care diagnostics.