The conventional flow cytometers at CMCA offer the ability to analyse from 1 to 100 parameters from a single sample. The BD Canto II, is a 3-laser system can measure up to 8 fluorescent parameters plus forward and side scatter. The BD LSR Fortessa is a 5-laser system can measure up to 18 fluorescent parameters plus forward and side scatter. Samples can be analysed from tubes and both these cytometers equipped with High-Throughput samplers which can sample from 96 and 384 well plates. The Luminex 200 uses xMap bead-based technology to measure up to 100 analytes from a single sample, samples can be as small as 20µL of serum. Luminex assays are 96-well based typical targets include proteins, cytokines, chemokines and nuclei acids with commercial kits available or the ability to produce your own depending on your research needs.

Instruments:

• BD Canto II 
• BD SORP Fortessa 
• Luminex 200 System 

Spectral flow cytometry measures the emission spectrum of across the full light spectrum of the fluorochrome. The 5-laser Cytek Aurora offers the ability to collect high-parameter single-cell data which can be used to perform deep immune-profiling experiments. Recent publications have measured 50-parameters from a single sample, which is especially important when using clinical patient samples which are often limited. The Cytek Aurora also has applications for measuring highly-auto fluorescent samples and potential identification of different populations only using these measurements.

Instrument:

• Cytek Aurora 

There are 2 cell sorters at CMCA and depending on your research needs the facility staff can guide you to the instrument which is best for your research. The BD FACS Melody has been designed by BD to be easy to use and as such researchers are trained to use this instrument independently of CMCA staff. It is a 3-laser system with 8 fluorescent channels, housed in a Class II Biological hood and capable of 2-way sorting into tubes (Eppendorf or FACS), slides and plates (6 to 96-wells). The BD Influx is a jet-in-air 5-laser cell sorter which can measure 21 fluorescent parameters, the highly customisable nature of this instrument means that it is operated by CMCA staff only.

The CellCelector platform is a unique and fully automated cell imaging and picking system. The 6-channel fluorescent microscope and powerful image processing software allows for the automated scanning for cells of interest. The picking robotic system can collect single cells or cells clusters of adherent and non-adherent cells. Applications include detection, selection and isolation of single cells, clusters, spheroid, and organoids as well as single cell clones and adherent colonies.

Instruments:

• BD Influx cell sorter
• BD Melody
• CellCelector