Systems and methods of conducting multiplexed experiments

A system for conducting a multi-plexed experiment comprising

• a mixture of microcarriers including multiple classes of microcarriers, each microcarriers having a code, at least one flat viewing surface and a shape that self-orients the viewing surface to face a viewing direction,
• a first class of microcarriers in the mixture each microcarriers in the first class having a first code configuration characterized by a first optically distinguishable combination of colored fibers and at least one transparent fiber,
• a second class of microcarriers in the mixture each microcarriers in the second class having a second code configuration characterized by a second optically distinguishable combination of colored fibers and at least one transparent fiber, and
• biological cells attached to at least some of the microcarriers, wherein the code on a microcarrier identifies a characteristic of a cell carried by the microcarriers.

A system for conducting a multiplexed experiment comprising

• a mixture of microcarriers including multiple classes of microcarriers,
• a first class of microcarriers in the mixture, each microcarriers in the first class having a first optically detectable code and at least one transparent portion,
• a second class of microcarriers in the mixture, each microcarriers in the second class having a second optically detectable code and at least one transparent portion, wherein each microcarriers has at least one flat viewing surface and a shape that self-orients the viewing surface to face a viewing direction, and
• biological cells attached to at least some of the microcarriers, wherein the code on a microcarriers identifies a characteristic of a cell carried by the microcarriers.