flowio

Parse FCS files into NumPy arrays and read channel metadata.

21|1|Updated Mar 19, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/OwnLabAI/ownlab --skill flowio-ownlabai
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: flowio
Source: https://github.com/OwnLabAI/ownlab/tree/main/mart/skills/scientific-skills/flowio
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/OwnLabAI/ownlab --skill flowio-ownlabai

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

FlowIO provides Python tools to read and write Flow Cytometry Standard (FCS) files, exposing metadata, channel information, and event data for downstream analysis and conversion to NumPy arrays or CSV/DataFrame formats.

Core Features & Use Cases

FlowIO enables:

  • Reading FCS TEXT metadata and channel labels
  • Extracting event data as NumPy arrays for analysis
  • Converting data to CSV or Pandas DataFrames for pipelines
  • Writing modified data back to FCS with preserved metadata

Quick Start

Load an FCS file with FlowData, call as_array() to retrieve events, and export to CSV or DataFrame for analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions about flowio

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I parse FCS flow cytometry files and extract event data in Python?

To parse FCS flow cytometry files, load the file with FlowData and call as_array() to retrieve event data as NumPy arrays for downstream analysis. It supports FCS versions 2.0 through 3.1 and exposes TEXT metadata and channel labels.

Can I convert FCS flow cytometry data to a Pandas DataFrame or CSV?

You can convert FCS flow cytometry data to Pandas DataFrames or CSV files by loading the FCS file with FlowData, extracting the event data, and exporting it for use in preprocessing pipelines or downstream analysis.

Does FlowIO support reading and writing FCS files with preserved metadata?

FlowIO supports reading and writing FCS files with preserved metadata. You can use the create_fcs utility to write modified data back to FCS format while retaining the original TEXT keywords and channel information.

What FCS file versions are supported for flow cytometry data extraction?

Flow cytometry data extraction supports FCS file versions 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, and 3.1. The parser extracts TEXT keywords, channel labels, and event data reliably across these standard versions.

How do I access channel metadata and TEXT keywords from an FCS file?

To access channel metadata and TEXT keywords from an FCS file, load the file using FlowData. This exposes the channel labels and metadata directly, making them available for extraction and downstream analysis pipelines.

Can I handle multiple datasets within a single FCS file?

You can handle multiple datasets within a single FCS file using FlowIO's optional multi-dataset handling capabilities. The FlowData utility processes multiple data segments while extracting event arrays and metadata.