The UBI COPAS BIOSORT system disperses and maintains nematodes in liquid suspension, straightens them, and flows them one-by-one through a laser beam. The system analyzes and sorts each animal according to both size and fluorescence without harm. For this study the system was modified such that positional information was retained as the nematodes were scanned along their longitudinal axis. Rather than averaging the fluorescence signal over the length of the animal, the signal was measured at approximately 100 points along the length of adult C. elegans . Profiling algorithms were developed that determined the location and the number of fluorescent features of the animals. The prototype was used to characterize and sort multivulva (Muv) C. elegans according to the number of vulvae. The Muv strains MT309
lin-15 and MT388
lin-12 (both obtained from the C. elegans Genetics Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul), as well as wild-type strain N2, were stained using NEMASELECT Male/Herma stain (Union Biometrica, Inc.) to mark the location of their vulvae. Electronic profiles were collected with the new signal processing electronics and single nematodes were deposited in individual wells of a 96-well plate. Nematodes and their associated profiles were visually compared. Close correlation between the number of stained vulva and the number of fluorescence peaks in the profiles was observed. The prototype software accurately scored and sorted the animals according to vulva number.