Services
Bioplex assisted acquisition Heading link
The Bioplex assisted acquisition is available to those investigators who wish to have their samples processed by FCC staff. For this serum, plasma, cell supernatant or other analytes should be frozen. The investigator will need to purchase the kit (either through FCC or directly) from the vendor and drop samples and kit off before the scheduled date. It takes a day to establish the exact protocol based on the assay being run. Samples will be thawed on the day of run and plates run and results generated.
Please schedule ahead as it takes a dedicated personnel to run these samples and it may not be possible to entertain last-minute reservations.
Bioplex training is mandatory for investigators who wish to use the Bioplex instrument for self-run. Training will last one session where the investigator will familiarize with the hardware of the instrument, the Bioplex Manager software, and the wash station if they intend to use it. Training will last around 60 minutes.
Cyan training Heading link
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Cyan training
Cyan training
Investigators who wish to run samples on the CyanADP by themselves must be trained by FCC staff prior to becoming an approved user. This is mandatory even if the investigator has previous experience in flow cytometry or have run other flow cytometers in the facility.
Training usually is 2 hands-on sessions of 90 minutes each. This includes a first introductory session to some basics of flow cytometry, an introduction to the Summit software and actual run time on the instrument. The second includes supervised time where the user gets an opportunity to create protocols and run their own samples independently, rules of compensation, and an introduction to the importance of gating and some points on basic analysis of data. More detailed training for analysis will be provided in a separate module (see Analysis training). Training is one-on-one session only. Group training are discouraged since there will not be adequate hands-on instrument time for more than one user per session.
Investigators are requested to bring not more 7 samples for their training sessions including unstained samples and other suitable controls. Although two training sessions are usually sufficient for approval to run the cytometer, the FCC staff will make the final determination if the user needs additional training sessions before approving the user for self-runs.
Please call 6-2775 to make appointments for training.
Fortessa training
Investigators who wish to run samples on the BD LSR Fortessa with High Throughput System (HTS) by themselves must be trained by FCC staff prior to becoming an approved user. This is mandatory even if the investigator has previous experience in flow cytometry or have run other flow cytometers in the facility.
Training usually is for 2 hands-on sessions of 90 minutes each. This includes a first introductory session to some basics of flow cytometry, an introduction to the DIVA software and actual run time on the instrument. The second includes supervised time where the user gets an opportunity to create protocols and run their own samples independently, rules of compensation, and an introduction to the importance of gating and some points on basic analysis of data. More detailed training for analysis will be provided in a separate module (see Analysis training).
Investigators are requested to bring not more than 7 samples for their training sessions including unstained samples and other suitable controls. Investigators must also specify whether they will be using single-tube or HTS systems as the modules are different for both. Although two training sessions are usually sufficient for approval to run the cytometer, the FCC staff will make the final determination if the user needs additional training sessions before approving the user.
Please call 6-2775 to make appointments for training.
Gallios training
Investigators who wish to run samples on the Gallios by themselves must be trained by FCC staff prior to becoming an approved user. This is mandatory even if the investigator has previous experience in flow cytometry or have run other flow cytometers in the facility.
Training usually is for 2 hands-on sessions of 90 minutes each. This includes a first introductory session to some basics of flow cytometry, an introduction to the Gallios software and actual run time on the instrument. The second includes supervised time where the user gets an opportunity to create protocols and run their own samples independently, rules of compensation, and an introduction to the importance of gating and some points on basic analysis of data. More detailed training for analysis will be provided in a separate module (see Analysis training).
Investigators are requested to bring not more 7 samples for their training sessions including unstained samples and other suitable controls. Although two training sessions are usually sufficient for approval to run the cytometer, the FCC staff will make the final determination if the user needs additional training sessions before approving the user.
Please call 6-2775 to make appointments for training.
Software training
Training will be provided on data analysis using the Kaluza or Summit software. Investigators will be shown how to display data by using appropriate gating patterns, representing data as histograms, dot plots, overlays, and to read percentages, Mean/median fluorescence intensity etc. Users will also be show how to compensate for spectral spill over between fluorochromes.
Data analysis Heading link
Investigators who wish to have their data analyzed by FCC staff must add Data analysis as an accessory. First priority will be given to acquiring samples on the instrument for all investigators. The time required for data analysis varies depending on the complexity of the experiment and number of fluorophores. Investigators are requested to let the FCC staff know how they want the samples analyzed and displayed (gating patterns, Histograms, dot plots, overlays, percentages, Mean/median fluorescence intensity etc.)
5 ml Polystyrene round-bottom tubes Heading link
| Shape | Round Bottom |
|---|---|
| Dim nominal | 12x75 mm |
| Cap | None |
| Writing patch | No |
| Rcf rating | 1400 |
| Vol nominal | 5.0 ml |
5 ml Polystyrene round-bottom tubes with cell-strainer cap Heading link
| Shape | Round Bottom |
|---|---|
| Dim nominal | 12x75 mm |
| Cap | Snap cap with cell strainer |
| Writing patch | No |
| Rcf rating | 1400 |
| Vol nominal | 5.0 ml |
Summit software installation Heading link
Summit software is a Windows® based application which allows for analysis of flow cytometry data. With Summit software, one can define protocols, configure compensation settings and workspaces. The software will be installed on your Windows-based system by FCC staff based on a pre-made appointment. If your laboratory requires permission/clearance from your IT department, please ensure that you have the password required for the installation of new software or that the required personnel. Please call 6-2775 to schedule your software installation. Summit software has a series of menus, hotkeys, and buttons which allow you to acquire, sort, and analyze flow cytometry data then save the data in FCS format. The FCC can install the Summit software version 4.3 for you to analyze data and perform compensation to the account of spectral overlap.
Wash station and magnetic plates for multiplex assays
Multiplexing assays may be magnetic bead-based and therefore may require a magnetic plate holder or a wash station to hold the beads while the plates are being washed. The plate washer and the plate holder can be obtained from the FCC.
Lease FlowJo software Heading link
Please note, Investigators from the Northwestern University and the University of Chicago are provided internal rates as all UIC users. All other users can access services but, at either external academic or external non-academic rate.