Flow Cytometry Facility
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| Facility History: Flow cytometry is an powerful tool used for examining phenotypic markers on the surface of cells, quantitating intra-cellular proteins, performing cell cycle analysis, calculating levels of apoptosis cells, multiplex detection of soluble proteins, and many other uses. Using two lasers, six individual parameters can be monitored for each cell. The addition of a sorting module allows the sorting of cells that have been tagged with fluorescent markers. | |
| Facility Equipment: The Facility operates two instruments. The first is a a Becton Dickenson FACS Calibur, equipped with 488 nm Argon-ion and red diode lasers for four colour analysis with cell sorting capabilities (300 cells / second) that is best for cell enrichment of populations with frequencies over 10%. Data acquisition and analysis is through Cell Quest Pro software. For maximum efficiency, a second analysis workstation complete with the Cell Quest Pro software, is available. The second instrument is a Beckman Coulter Epics Elite, two laser, four colour, high-speed sorter (5,000 cells / second). This instrument is located in our biosafety level 3 laboratory allowing sorting of viable human cells from normal controls and those exposed or infected with class III - non-aerosol pathogens (such as HIV). This instrument is idea of analyses requiring live human cells (apoptosis assays) and sorting of rare cell types for cloning or further analysis. | |
| Services Provided: For use of the FACSCalibur, nitial training is provided until individuals can efficient operate the equipment themselves. For high speed sorting a dedicated technician operates the instrument. | |
| How to get services: For more information or to make an appointment contact Steve Wayne 789-3818. | |
| Cost of services: A charge of $50/hour of laser time will be applied or frequent users can pay an annual fee for unlimited access. |