There are currently four flow cytometers in the core facility.

The BD LSR II is an analyser with four lasers, an argon laser (6 colours), Red HeNe (2 colours), UV laser (2 colours) and violet diode (3 colours) and thus capable of detecting 13 fluorescent signals e.g. FITC, PE, PE-Texas Red or Quantum Dot 605, PE-Cy5, PE-Cy5.5, PE-Cy7, APC, APC-Cy7, Pacific Blue, Pacific Orange, Quantum Dot 605 and violet and green Indo-1 signals. DNA binding dyes DAPI, PI, 7-AAD, ToPro-3 and DRAQ7 can be used on the LSRII. Fluorochrome list.

The BD FACS Canto II is an analyser with three lasers,an argon laser (4 colours), Red HeNe (2 colours) and a violet laser (2 colours) and thus capable of detecting 8 fluorescent signals e.g. FITC, PE, PE-Cy5.5, PE-Cy7, APC, APC-Cy7, Pacific Blue and Pacific Orange. This instrument also has FACS Canto clinical software v2.1 suitable for clinical samples. DNA binding dyes DAPI, PI, 7-AAD, ToPro-3 and DRAQ7 can be used on the Canto II. Fluorochrome list.

The Becton Dickinson FACScan is an analyser with an argon laser capable of detecting 3 fluorescent signals e.g. FITC or GFP, PE and PE-Cy5 or PE-Cy5.5 or PE-Cy7. DNA binding dyes PI, 7-AAD and DRAQ7 can be used on the FACScan. Fluorochrome list.

The BD FACSAria I is an analyser and cell sorter with three lasers, an argon laser (6 colours), Red HeNe (3 colours) and violet diode (3 colours) and capable of detecting 12 fluorescent signals e.g. FITC, PE, PE-Texas Red or Quantum Dot 605, PE-Cy5, PE-Cy5.5, PE-Cy7, APC, APC-Cy5.5, APC-Cy7, Pacific Blue, Pacific Orange, Quantum Dot 605. The FACSAria can perform 2 and 4 way sorting as well as automatic cell deposition for sorting onto TC plates or slides. Sort rates are 20,000 cells per second for lymphocytes and 10,000 cells per second for cells >10um via 70 and 100um nozzle sizes at 70 and 20 psi respectively. A 130um nozzle is now available which can sort cells >40um at 5,000 cells per second at 12 psiDNA binding dyes DAPI, PI, 7-AAD, ToPro-3 and DRAQ7 can be used on the Aria. Fluorochrome list.