Equipment

Equipment

Cytek Aurora – equipped in the 355, 405, 488, 561 and 635 nm lasers

Cytek Aurora CS – equipped in the 355, 405, 488, 561 and 635 nm lasers

BD LSR Fortessa Analyser – equipped in the 355 nm, 405 nm, 488 nm and 635 nm lasers

Cell sorter BD FACSAriaII – equipped in the 405nm, 488 nm and 635 nm lasers

Cytometer BD FACSCalibur – equipped in the 488 nm laser and red diode 635 nm

Capillary cytometer Merck Millipore Guava easyCyte – equipped in the 488 nm and 640 nm

Configuration of lasers

BD FACSCalibur

The laboratory possesses two FACSCaliburs, which are benchtop flow cytometers that provide standard multicolor analysis. They are equipped with two lasers, an air-cooled argon laser (488nm) and a red diode laser (635nm), which are spatially separated for high sensitivity needed for multicolor analysis. Up to four colors can be analyzed on this system using the 488 and 635 lasers. The detectors available from the 488 laser are 530/30, 585/42, >670, and from the 635 laser, 661/16. The BD FACSCalibur flow cytometer provides flexibility to support a wide variety of research such as cell analysis, assay development, verification, and isolation of cellular populations of interest. The FACSCalibur uses a Macintosh workstation and CellQuest acquisition/analysis software.

BD LSRFortessa

The BD LSRFortessa™ cell analyzer the laboratory is equipped with offers the ultimate in choice for flow cytometry, providing performance and consistency. The system includes a novel collection optics that reduce excitation losses and improve light collection efficiency. The result is optical efficiency that delivers maximal sensitivity and resolution for multicolour applications. Our LSR Fortessa system uses up to four lasers – 488 nm (blue), 640 nm (red), 405 nm (violet) and 355 nm (UV). This enables the detection of up to 13 colors simultaneously. The high throughput sampler (HTS) allows cells to be taken from a 96 or 384 well plate for screening assays. The BD LSRFortessa™ cell analyzer uses FACSDiva software for acquisition and analysis.

BD FACSAria IIu

The BD FACSAria I™Cell Sorter which the Laboratory of Cytometry is equipped with was upgraded to BD FACSAriaIIu system. It is a first easy-to-use benchtop cytometer which delivers high-speed sorting and multicolor analysis. It is equipped with a fixed-alignment flow cell cuvette which provides superior fluorescence sensitivity. It can simultaneously detect up to 11 parameters (2 scatter signals and up to 9 fluorescent parameters) by utilizing 3 air-cooled, solid state lasers (laser outputs at 405nm, 488nm and 633nm) and a fixed optical alignment system allowing for multiple configurations and a wide range of fluorochromes. The FACSAria allows for digital acquisition rates of up to 70,000 cells per second. The BD FACSAria is able to sort into two- and four-way bulk sorting devices for a variety of tube sizes (micro-tubes, 12 x 75ml test tubes, 15ml falcon tubes). The cytometer can sort using Automated Cell Deposition Unit (ACDU) to multi-well plates or on the microscope slide. The sorter is equipped with an Aerosol Management System that evacuates any aerosols from the sort chamber and has a refrigeration system that allows cooling of the sort sample. The FACSAria workstation is equipped with BD FACSDiva software that is used for the collection, storage, and analysis of digital data.

Guava easyCyte 8HT

Microcapillary Guava easyCyte8HT system is very simple to operate and an alternative technology in flow cytometry. It is equipped with solid state 488nm and 640nm lasers, allowing simultaneous detection up to 6 fluorescent parameters. The cytometer utilizes small sample volumes and requires no sheath fluid to minimize waste. The cytometer possess robotic sample tray, that automatically handles a 96-well plate and up to 10 tubes. The powerful InCyte software has drop & drag menu, HeatMap for data presentation. It enables semi- automated compensation with ability to post-acquisition compensation and automated calculation of IC50/EC50 curves.

Cytek Aurora

With five lasers, three scattering channels (FSC, blue laser SSC and violet laser SSC) and 64 fluorescence channels, the Aurora suits every laboratory’s needs, from simple to highcomplexity applications. The detection of some fluorochrome combinations by conventional flow cytometry presents a challenge due to high amounts of spectral overlap. The Aurora addresses this challenge by using differences in full emission spectra signatures across all lasers to clearly resolve these combinations, even if the populations are co-expressed. 

The state-of-the-art optics and low-noise electronics provide excellent sensitivity and resolution. Flat-top laser beam profiles, combined with a uniquely designed fluidics system, translate to outstanding performance at high sample flow rates. 

This system delivers high quality data where rare and dim populations are easily resolved, regardless of assay complexity. 

SpectroFlo® software offers an intuitive workflow from QC to data analysis with technology-enabling tools that simplify running any application. 

Cytek Aurora CS

Like Aurora, the CS provides the benefits of full spectrum profiling (FSP™) technology. The system delivers high resolution at the single cell level to resolve the most challenging cell populations, such as cells with high autofluorescence or low levels of expression of key biomarkers, regardless of assay complexity, and to isolate live cells for downstream studies. Welcome to a new world where the assays optimized on the Aurora can also be run on the Aurora CS for sorting. As a sorter, the CS offers the flexibility required to meet various biological and sorting conditions. With up to 6-way sorting, customizable nozzle settings and sort modes, automated drop delay and sort stream monitoring, the CS offers the flexibility required to meet various application needs from smaller to larger cells.