Equipment & Analysis Software

The Flow Cytometry & Cell Sorting Unit is located in the Darby Children's Research Institute (CR205G) at 173 Ashley Ave.

Analytical Flow Cytometry

BD Fortessa X-20

The Fortessa X-20 is the most powerful analytic cytometer in the BD line, delivering high-performance multicolor analysis. The FCCS instrument is currently configured to detect 16 fluorescent parameters from the 405 nm violet, 488 nm blue, 633 nm red lasers and a state of the art, high-powered UV laser (60 mW). The Fortessa X-20 is supported by FACSDiva 7 software and is fully back-compatible with previous versions of FACSDiva.

Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX LX

The CytoFLEX Platform is a revolutionary system presenting optimal excitation and emission, minimizing light loss, and maximizing sensitivity. Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX LX Platform demonstrates outstanding sensitivity and reproducibility with six excitation wavelengths (355 nm, 375 nm, 405 nm, 488 nm, 638 nm, 808 nm). Isolating and analyzing blood or cultured cells, bacteria, algae, yeasts, microparticles, and even nanoparticles like extracellular vesicles pose no challenge for this compact but powerful cytometer in any of its configurations. The only cytometer on the market with the ability to reliably detect 80 nm polystyrene beads, the CytoFLEX is a trustworthy partner in your extracellular vesicle and other small particle research. 

Spectral Flow Cytometry

Cytek Northern Lights

Cytek Northern Lights is a next-generation Spectral Flow Cytometry analyzer with 3 lasers (405nm Violet, 488nm Blue, and 640nm Red) and 38 total detectors. The novel Avalanche Photodiode detector arrangement in the Northern Lights allows for the collection of the entire emission spectrum of each fluorochrome used. By evaluating fluorochromes across the entire visible spectrum, rather than that fluorochrome’s emission maximum significantly improved resolution and allows the measurement of significantly more parameters than a standard instrument (to date up to 24 on the Northern Lights). State-of-the-art optics and low-noise electronics redefine sensitivity and ease of use with a single configuration appropriate for all assays and any commercially available fluorochrome. Inquire with Jacob Kendrick to learn more about this remarkable system.

Imaging Flow Cytometry

ImageStreamX Mk II

The ImageStreamX Mk II System is a benchtop, multispectral, imaging flow cytometer designed for the acquisition of up to 12 channels of cellular imagery. By collecting large numbers of digital images per sample and providing a numerical representation of image-based features, the ImageStreamX Mk II combines the per cell information content provided by standard microscopy with the statistical significance afforded by large sample sizes common to standard flow cytometry. With the ImageStreamX Mk II System, fluorescence intensity measurements are acquired as with a conventional flow cytometer; however, the best applications for the ImageStreamX Mk II take advantage of the system’s imaging abilities to locate and quantitate the distribution of signals on, in, or between cells.

Cell Sorting

FACSAria III

The FACSAria III cell sorter has five lasers (355nm UV, 375nm Violet, 488nm Blue, 561nm Yellow, and 633nm Red) and is configured for 16 colors plus forward and side scatter for use in complex cell sorting. It is also equipped with a temperature control system and supports 2- and 4-way sorting into 1-ml, 5-ml, or 15-ml tubes, as well as isolation into 96 and 384 well plates, facilitating single cell isolation. The FACSAria is connected to an Aerosol Management System and housed in a dedicated biosafety cabinet for biohazard containment.

MoFlo Astrios EQ

The Beckman Coulter MoFlo Astrios EQ cell sorter is a four-laser instrument containing (355 nm UV, 405 nm Violet, 488 nm Blue, and 642 nm Red) lasers capable of simultaneous detection of 14 fluorescence parameters for each particle. The Astrios EQ’s dual enhanced forward scatter (eFSC) technology enables you to see and sort particles over more than three orders of magnitude, from as small as 200 nm to 30 µm diameter, all at the same time. Flexible experiment design allows for 6-way mixed mode jet-in-air sorting in addition to plate-based sorting for single cell isolation. The Astrios is capable of x70,000 sort decisions/second providing high-speed, high-efficiency cell isolation. Housed in a dedicated biosafety cabinet, the Astrios is capable of sorting biohazardous samples. The Astrios operates Summit v62 software.

Mass and Imaging Mass Cytometry

Hyperion Imaging Mass Cytometer

The Hyperion™ Imaging System enables comprehensive analysis of cellular phenotypes and their interrelationships using Imaging Mass Cytometry™. Bringing together high-parameter CyTOF® technology with imaging capability, the Hyperion Imaging System enables you to visualize 4 to 37 protein markers in the spatial context of the tissue microenvironment, surpassing the capabilities of fluorescent immunohistochemistry (IHC). With the ability to utilize up to 135 channels to detect additional parameters, the Hyperion Imaging System is ideal to meet your needs today and well into the future.

IonPath Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI) Scope

The MIBIscope™ System is a revolutionary imaging platform, enabling comprehensive phenotypic profiling and spatial analysis of the tissue microenvironment. The MIBIscope allows researchers to visualize over 40 markers simultaneously with higher sensitivity, resolution, and throughput than existing methods.

Helios (CyTOF2.1) Mass Cytometer

Mass cytometry is a single-cell detection technology based on inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Antibodies or other reagents tagged with rare metal isotopes can be used to probe the proteome and potentially over 100 available parameters can be simultaneously measured on a single cell without the issue of spectral overlap typical for classical, fluorochrome-based flow cytometry or tissue/cell autofluorescence. The CyTOF2.1 instrument (Helios) is capable of measuring 135 different mass channels (75-209 amu) at a throughput of 1000 cells/sec.

Analysis Software

The Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Shared Resource maintains a remote access data analysis workstation, as well as two physical FlowJo keys, all of which are available to reserve for free on Infinity. The facility also sells FlowJo Portal License seats to users at an annual rate. Contact Jacob Kendrick at kendricb@musc.edu for more information or to purchase a portal license seat.