Analytical evaluation of aqueous liquid media with sample monitoring structure having size-sensitive fluorescent hydrogel

A method for flow cytometry evaluation of an aqueous fluid sample, comprising:

• subjecting an aqueous fluid sample to flow cytometry evaluation, wherein:
• the fluid sample comprises a sample of biological material to be evaluated for presence of target particles in the biological material;
• and
• the fluid sample comprises a plurality of beads disposed in an aqueous liquid medium, the beads comprising a hydrogel that changes in size in response to a change in at least one property of the fluid sample;
• the flow cytometry evaluation comprises flowing the fluid sample through an investigation zone and in the investigation zone subjecting a flow of the fluid sample to stimulation radiation and detecting for response radiation from the investigation zone;
• and
• evaluating detected response radiation from the detecting to identify occurrences in the fluid sample of the target particles and to separately identify occurrences in the fluid sample of the beads.

A product for use in monitoring an aqueous fluid sample during flow cytometry evaluation of the fluid sample, the product comprising:

• a plurality of beads for inclusion in an aqueous liquid medium of an aqueous fluid sample to monitor the fluid sample during flow cytometry evaluation, wherein each said bead comprises:
• a hydrogel that changes in size in response to a change in at least one property of the aqueous fluid sample;
• and
• a refractive index in a range of from in a range of from 1.1 to 1.8.