We make a distinction between Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) and Flow Cytometry. Flow Cytometry & Cell SortingFlow cytometry (FC) is a technology that allows analysis of physical and chemical properties of single cells such as mammalian cells, yeast, bacteria or particles such as beads, chromosomes and extracellular vesicles. The particles are characterised by light scatter defining size and granularity, and fluorescent tags to define other characteristics. These individual cells or particles can be recovered using a process called fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS).On this page you will find links to the flow cytometry and sorting capabilities at The Roslin Institute. Including information on Scotland’s first Bigfoot Spectral Cell Sorter.Flow Cytometry Range of Flow Cytometry Analyser capabilities. Please see flow cytometry link for details. Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS)The facility has a broad range of sorting capabilities. The cell sorters are operated by a dedicated team within the facility. Please contact Anna Raper to discuss your sorting requirements. You will be requested to complete a sort questionnaire ahead of your sort that covers Health and Safety considerations, but also to provide guidance on sample preparation for sorting and to provide information for the team to correctly calibrate the equipment. Thermo Bigfoot Spectral Cell SorterScotland’s first Bigfoot Spectral Cell sorter. Spectral flow cytometry is the ability measuring the full spectral signature of each fluorochromes and use this to unmix fluorescent markers in a multi-colour panel. Bigfoot is able to operate using either spectral unmixing or convectional compensation.Instrument properties:5 lasers (349, 405, 488, 561, 640nm), 57 detectorsCompatible with multiple collection formats: tubes (1.5–50 mL), multi-well plates (6–1536), agar plates and slidesFast plate sorting (96 well plate in 11 seconds and 384 well plate in 20 seconds)Straight down plate sorting enable accurate sorting into small volumesIntegrated biosafety enclosureSix-way tube sorting and direct plate sortingTemperature controls from 4-37OC. Bigfoot cell sorter with example of 384 well plate with single bead coulometric test sort and a spectral signature for dissociated chicken embryonic eye cells expressing GFP tagged NTN1. BD FACS Aria IIIu The aria is a conventional cuvette-based cell sorter. Instrument properties:4 lasers (405, 488, 561, 640nm), 14 fluorescence channelsFour-way tube sorting or 96/384-well plate sortingTemperature controlled BD FACS Aria IIIu This article was published on 2024-09-02
