Spot & Foci Detection

Detects, counts, and measures small bright puncta within cells. This is a general-purpose capability that underlies many specific biological assays including DNA damage, RNA quantification, and organelle analysis.

Spot & Foci Detection illustration
Input channels
  • Ch1: DAPI
  • Ch2: channel containing punctate structures (IF, FISH probe, or fluorescent tag)
Output metrics
  • Spot count per cell
  • Spot area
  • Spot intensity
  • Total spot area per cell
  • % cells with spots

Everything you need for spot & foci detection

Automated, reproducible, and code-free analysis in the cloud

Cloud-based

No software to install, no GPU required. Run analysis from any browser on any device.

Fully automated

Upload your images and get publication-ready results. No coding or scripting needed.

Reproducible

Every analysis is logged and reproducible. Share protocols with collaborators instantly.

How it runs

Cytely automates the image analysis so you can focus on the science.

01

Segment nuclei/cells from DAPI

02

Detect puncta in target channel

03

Count and measure per cell.

Compatibility

Supported

DNA damage foci (γH2AX, 53BP1, RAD51), RNA puncta (RNAscope, smFISH), stress granules (G3BP1), P-bodies (DCP1A), PML bodies, synaptic puncta, receptor clusters, drug aggregates, viral particles, lipid droplets, any sub-cellular punctate structure.

Not yet supported

3D spot detection in Z-stacks, spot tracking over time.

1 Dependent on sample quality

Ready to automate your spot & foci detection analysis?

Get started for free or book a demo to see how Cytely works with your data.

Trusted by leading research institutions

Hundreds of researchers use Cytely to accelerate discovery

Simple, transparent pricing

Start free. Upgrade when you need more.

Free

For exploration and learning

$0

Free forever

  • 1 monthly analysis credit
  • Unlimited public datasets
  • Community support
Get started

Individual

For active researchers

From $299

per month

  • 10+ monthly analysis credits
  • Image analysis support
  • Priority email support
See pricing

Lab / Team

For collaborating teams

Custom

Contact us

  • 5+ seats included
  • Shared folders and templates
  • Dedicated support
Book demo

Loved by researchers

Hear from researchers who use Cytely every day.

Chief Scientific OfficerEuropean Contract Research Organization

The data-driven approach that Cytely offers is a dream to an experienced microscopist like me.

Professor in Muscle BiologyLeading European Research University

This completely removes bias. The price is negligible when you consider the time spent on image analysis.

Hematology ResearcherHematology Researcher

It's just amazing what can be done today! Cytely does all the work for me!

Infection Medicine ResearcherDoctoral Student, Lund University

Cytely makes me 10 times faster. It saves hours on every experiment.

Alex Evilevitch
Alex EvilevitchProfessor, Lund University

The insight we gained from Cytely was a completely transformative experience. It allowed us to redesign our experiment and finally move the project forward.

SwathiCancer Mechanobiology Researcher

Cytely dramatically improved our timelines while enhancing data reliability through automated, unbiased analysis and significantly larger sample sizes.

Blazej Cegielski
Blazej CegielskiVirus Biophysics Lab

With Cytely, we instantly analyzed thousands of cells to precisely identify which were transfected, infected, or both. What had been a three-year roadblock was resolved in our first session.

Curious about this assay?

Book a quick call and our team will help you set up your analysis.

Other assay needs?

Talk to our image analysis specialists. We're adding new assays regularly.