Human chromosomes were separated on basis of size by velocity sedimentation at 52g in a specially designed sedimentation chamber. The chamber has been constructed in such a way that large numbers of chromosomes can be fractionated on a sucrose gradient while wall sedimentation, streaming, and swirling movements of the gradient during centrifugation are eliminated. Flow deflectors in the chamber allow undisturbed introduction and fractionation of the density gradient. The different chromosomal fractions obtained are highly enriched for the various human chromosomes. Individual chromosomes were subsequently sorted to purity by fluorescence activated flow sorting using a FACS IV flow sorter equipped with a 4‐W argon‐ion laser. Following this procedure, the sorting rate for specific chromosomes can be speeded up by a factor of 5–10 when the pre‐enriched chromosomal fractions are used as starting material. A high chromosome resolution could be obtained by a few simple modifications of the FACS IV. By applying fluorochromes with different DNA‐base specificity the sorting possibilities of individual human chromosomes can be improved. In addition, the chromosomal fractions were analysed by dual laser flow cytometry after staining the chromosomes with Hoechst 33258 and chromomycin A3. In this way the enrichment of virtually all individual human chromosomes in the different chromosomal fractions can be visualized.

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The density of HLA determinants on the cell surface was studied in relation to HLA capping in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Analysis was performed with flow cytometry (FACS) and a subjective labeling score. These two methods gave comparable results. In T-ALL high percentages of capped cells were related to low numbers of HLA determinants. In c-ALL we found the opposite. This study shows that capping capacity and number of HLA determinants in childhood ALL are inversely related.