Flow Cytometry Lab

The Flow Cytometry laboratory is housed in Coles Hall Room 324 of the College of Veterinary Medicine Complex. This laboratory is equipped with state of the art equipment by Becton Dickinson, a FACSCalibur and MoFLO XDP.

 

FACSCalibur :

 

 

 

 

The laboratory has a Becton Dickinson FACSCalibur bench top flow cytometer equipped with an argon laser that emits light at a wavelength of 488 nm and a red diode laser that emits light at 630 nm. This two laser cytometer allows the operator to analyze up to 4-color and 2 size parameters of cells or fluorescently labeled particles. The FACSCalibur is interfaced with Macintosh computer and multiple printers that have publication quality color capabilities. The lab uses Becton Dickinson software, Cell Quest and ModFit to analyze data.

 

 

 

MoFLO XDP :

 

 

 

The MoFLO XDP is a “state of the art” analytical flow cytometer with high speed sorting capabilities. The MoFlo has three lasers (argon/UV/red diode) with the capability to perform 6-color and 2 size parameter analyses and to routinely sort cells or particles at speeds up to 30,000/second.

 

 

 

The research capabilities of this facility are very diverse and only limited by the imagination, available fluorochromes, and capabilities of the instruments.  Examples of the research experiments that can be performed at this facility include but are not limited to: apoptosis studies, immunophenotyping, DNA content and viability of spermatozoa and other cell types, intracellular calcium levels, respiratory burst and phagocytic function, cell cycle, enzymatic activity, sorting of individual subpopulations of cells from a mixed population, sorting of GFP expressing cells from mixed cultures, and analysis of PCR products attached to microspheres.(See the slide show: Basic Theories and Applications for Flow Cytometry)  Examples of the clinical diagnostic assays that are performed at this facility include defining alterations in lymphocyte subsets in animal patients with immune deficiencies, immune disorders, or leukemias, detection of surface bound antibody in cases of immune mediated hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia, and determination of DNA content and ploidy in cancer cells.  The FACSCalibur can be used by individual researchers after training by a member of the staff at the facility.  The MoFlo XDP is operated solely by a member of the staff at the facility, after consultation with the client. (MoFLO XDP presentation)