Methods for Continuous Measurement of Baseline Noise in a Flow Cytometer And Systems For Same

A system comprising:

• a light source configured to irradiate a flow stream between particles flowing in the flow stream;
• a light detection system comprising a photodetector for detecting light emanating from the irradiated flow stream;
• a processor comprising memory operably coupled to the processor wherein the memory comprises instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• generate data signals from detected light;
• calculate a moving average mean squared error of the generated data signals by measuring a squared difference between the generated data signals and a baseline data signal;
• and
• determine a baseline noise of the photodetector based on the calculated mean squared error of the generated data signals over a predetermined period of time.

A method for determining a baseline noise of a photodetector in a particle analyzer, the method comprising:

• irradiating a flow stream between particles flowing in the flow stream;
• detecting light emanating from the irradiated flow stream with a photodetector;
• generating data signals from the detected light;
• calculating a moving average mean squared error of the generated data signals by measuring a squared difference between the generated data signals and a baseline data signal;
• and
• determining the baseline noise of the photodetector based on the calculated mean squared error of the generated data signals over a predetermined period of time.