Cytek Biosciences unveils next-generation spectral flow cytometry innovations at CYTO 2026

Cytek Biosciences, Inc. will unveil new full spectrum flow cytometry innovations at CYTO 2026, taking place June 6–10, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Cytek will introduce the new 7-laser Cytek Borealis™ full spectrum flow cytometer with Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) and Infrared (IR) cFluor^® reagents, alongside enhanced automation-ready configurations of the Cytek Aurora Evo system, designed to increase flexibility, scalability, and workflow efficiency for high-parameter cell analysis.

Advancing high-parameter spectral flow cytometry

The 39th annual CYTO Congress, themed Cytometry: The Next Wave, will highlight emerging technologies shaping the future of cytometry. Cytek Biosciences continues to play a central role in this evolution by advancing high-parameter analysis with end-to-end cell analysis solutions tailored for a wide range of research and biopharma applications.

Cytek will also host two tutorial sessions at CYTO, focused on expanding the capabilities of flow cytometry and streamlining high-dimensional workflows:

• Expanding the frontiers of flow cytometry with the Cytek Borealis full spectrum imaging flow cytometer
• Streamlining high-dimensional flow cytometry workflows with Cytek^® Cloud

New Cytek Borealis 7-laser full spectrum flow cytometer

CYTO 2026 attendees will see the debut of the Cytek Borealis system, a next-generation platform that combines full spectrum flow cytometry with future cellular imaging capabilities in a single instrument.

Available through an Early Access Program (EAP), the Cytek Borealis system features 120 detectors (110 fluorescence and 10 scatter) across seven laser lines, including newly added DUV and IR lasers. This expanded detection range enables the development of high-resolution 60-color panels, with the potential to go beyond this level of complexity.

To support these expanded optical capabilities, Cytek has developed DUV and IR cFluor reagents optimized for use with the Cytek Borealis system. These new dyes are available via EAP for custom panel design and evaluation, with broader commercial availability planned. This integrated solution allows researchers to access new spectral space and scale panel complexity in ways that are not currently available on other platforms.

The Cytek Borealis platform builds on Cytek’s expertise in high-parameter cytometry and incorporates future imaging capabilities acquired through its Luminex ImageStream assets. The result is a unified system designed to extend what can be learned from a single sample.

By integrating imaging with spectral detection, the Cytek Borealis system is intended to provide a more complete view of cellular behavior and structure.

Enhanced Cytek Aurora Evo configurations for automation

Cytek will also highlight new automation and throughput enhancements to the Cytek Aurora Evo platform. These updated configurations are designed to enable integration of full spectrum flow cytometry into automated environments, increasing scalability and reducing the need for manual intervention.

Building on the Cytek Aurora Evo system’s existing automation and throughput features, including increased flow rates and automated startup and shutdown, Cytek is extending this foundation with new hardware capabilities and software API integrations. Scientists will be able to automate their full spectrum workflows by connecting the Cytek Aurora Evo system to robotic plate handling systems and third-party scheduling platforms.

These automation capabilities are particularly relevant for biopharma organizations and contract research organizations (CROs), where efficiency, reproducibility, and seamless system integration are critical for large-scale studies and high-throughput screening.

“We’re excited to be part of CYTO 2026, where the flow cytometry community comes together to explore new ideas and emerging technologies,” said Dr. Wenbin Jiang, CEO of Cytek Biosciences. “Our latest innovations reflect a continued commitment to expanding what is possible, delivering solutions that help researchers generate deeper insights from one sample with greater efficiency and confidence.”

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