Can FACS and Immunoflourescence data be correlated?

Dear Users,
I had a very fundamental question about quantification of flourescence 
data, as obtained by FACS v/s immunocytochmemistry (ICC) data as 
observed under the microscope. We have been doing staining of mammary 
epithelial cells with BrdU using protocols that we have standardised 
for both FACS and ICC using a secondary conjugated to FITC.

With ICC, we count the number of green cells under the microscope as 
positive. With FACS, we get the number as given by the machine. In a 
one time experiment done parallely, we could not get the same positive 
cell count when compared between the 2 techniques. I am not sure if 
researchers always find the quantitaive FACS and ICC data the same?

We work with primary human breast cancer cells. Hence cell number is 
our biggest limitation in all experiments. Therefore we have been 
majorly using ICC to count BrdU positivity. We wanted to test if the 
quantification we are doing using ICC is correct. Now, I am not sure if 
we can & should expect an exact corrrelation between numbers obtained 
with ICC and FACS.

I would be very grateful and helped for any insight in this direction.

Best wishes and wishing each of you a Very Happy New Year!

DD

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