Cytometry: Editorial Policy

Cytometry is the official journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology.

The scope of Cytometry embraces all aspects of analytical cytology, which is defined broadly as characterization and measurement of cells and cellular constituents for biological, diagnostic, and therapeutic purposes. It includes components of cytochemistry, cytophysics, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, pathology, image analysis, statistics, instrumentation, clinical laboratory practice, and other relevant subjects.

Manuscripts may include new experimental results, descriptions of new methods or modifications of existing ones, or new interpretations of previously published data. Manuscripts from all countries are invited but must be in English. Authors are not required to be members of the International Society for Analytical Cytology.

Review of Manuscripts

An expert and anonymous reviewing process is important in assessing the scientific soundness of contributions to Cytometry and frequently helps authors to present their findings clearly and concisely.

The Editorial Board of Cytometry selects reviewers, assists in review of manuscripts, makes recommendations concerning the suitability of manuscripts for publication, and advises the Editor- in-Chief on matters related to publication policy.

All manuscripts are evaluated independently by two reviewers. Reviewers are requested to submit written evaluations employing the following criteria:

1. Does the subject matter fall within the scope of Cytometry?
2. Does the paper describe original findings and add significantly to knowledge in its field?
3. Are the aims, results, and discussion presented clearly and concisely?
4. Are the experimental methods generally acceptable and are they described in sufficient detail to permit repetition of the work?
5. Is the documentation of the findings adequate?
6. Are the illustrations appropriate and of acceptable quality?
7. Are quantitative results statistically supported?
8. Is the list of references current and complete?

Reviewers may choose to mark comments and corrections on copies of the manuscript.

The Editor-in-Chief, on the basis of recommendations from the reviewers and the Editorial Board, may accept the manuscript, decline it, return it for revision, or send it to a third reviewer to referee differences of opinion between the initial reviewers.

Forms of Publication

Cytometry publishes five types of contributed papers:

Articles are full-length reports of original research in all fields of analytical cytology. The investigation may contribute to the development, evaluation, or application of cytometric methods and their use in biology and medicine.

Reviews are comprehensive appraisals of current cytometric issues and advances. They are subject to the same review process as other papers. Reviews are welcomed, but authors should consult the Editor- in-Chief about the suitability of a proposed Review before its preparation.

Technical Notes briefly describe improvements or helpful modifications in procedures for cytometric and related techniques. The Technical Note should include a brief statement of purpose, an adequately detailed description of the procedure, a statement of expected results, and references to pertinent literature. Observations based on the application of the method also may be included.

Rapid Communications are original articles of such timeliness and interest that they merit priority processing. Authors will submit their manuscript with a letter explaining their reasons for requesting rapid processing. If the Editor agrees with the request, the manuscript will receive an expedited review and, when accepted, priority for publication; otherwise the manuscript will be processed as a regular submission. Manuscripts should be submitted both as hard copy and on disk, following the instructions for electronic submission.

Letters to the Editor provide a forum for communication of opinion, interpretation, and new information on scientific/political matters. Letters are judged on appropriateness of the subject and interest to the readers. They should be concise and pointed. The purpose of the letter must be stated clearly in the text.

Length of Manuscripts and Page Charges

Authors are reminded that brevity is a virtue and contributes to the clarity of their contribution. Normally, articles will be limited to about 5,000 words and a combined total of six figures and tables. Authors will be asked to shorten excessively verbose manuscripts. Authors of articles that exceed eight printed pages will be charged $150 per excess page. Prior to publication, the Editor may waive this charge for authors who specifically request exemption and who provide appropriate reasons to justify their request.

Reprints

Reprints are supplied at a cost based on the number of pages in the printed article and the number of reprints ordered, as shown on the order blank mailed with the proofs. Authors can expect to receive proofs approximately two months after their manuscript has been accepted for publication.

Copyright

Submission of a manuscript implies that it has been approved by all the named authors, that it reports unpublished work, and that it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. If the manuscript is accepted for publication, it will become the sole property of the publisher and will be copyrighted in the name of the publisher. The manuscript, in whole or in part, must not be published elsewhere either in English or another language.

Editorial Office

Requests for copies of the Editorial Policy and Instructions to Contributors, requests for clarification of specific issues, manuscripts submitted for publication, and all other communications with the Editorial Office should be addressed to the Editor-in-Chief:

Brian H. Mayall, M.D.
Editorial Office, Cytometry
Department of Laboratory Medicine
University of California, San Francisco
Box 0808, MCB 230
San Francisco, CA 94143-0808
Telephone: (415) 476-6683
Telefax: (415) 476-5106
E-mail: cytometry@dmc.ucsf.edu

European contributors may address their requests to the European Editor:

Jan W. M. Visser, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology
New York Blood Center
310 East 67th Street
New York, NY 10021
Telephone: (212) 570-3144
Telefax: (212) 570-3307
E-mail: jvisser@server.nybc.org Revised November 1994