On this page:

• Equipment Features
  • FACSAria
  • FACSDiva
• Fees
• Services Available on FACSAria or FACSDiva
  • Sorting
  • Single Cell Deposition and Index Sorting
  • Calcium Flux
  • Hoechst Dye Visualization of DNA
• Scheduling and Sample Preparation
• Scheduling and Sample Preparation for Ca Flux or DNA Cell Cycle
• Publication Acknowledgement Request

Equipment Features

FACSAria

• Fluorescence-activated cell sorter
• Operator assisted
• 488 nm, 633 nm and 407nm wavelengths
• Plates 4 way sorting

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FACSDiVa

• Fluorescence-activated cell sorter
• Operator assisted
• 488 nm, 633 nm and UV wavelengths
• Plates 4 way sorting

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Fees

• ACS Aria: $103/hour
• FACS DiVa: $103/hour
• Sterile set-up: $75
• Nozzle change: $40
• Cancellation one or more days ahead: NO CHARGE
• Cancellation same day as sort is scheduled: Charged for 1/2 the amount of time

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Services Available on FACSAria or FACSDiva

Sorting

• Sort rates from 300->22,000 events/second
• Up to eight color plus forward and side scatter sorting
• Four way sorting

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Single Cell Deposition and Index Sorting

• Sorting of gated cells into plates. Any number of cells can be deposited into any number of wells (The picture below shows fluorescent beads.)
• Index sorting allows for the identification of individual sorted cells.

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Calcium Flux

• Calcium flux can be visualized in specified populations using gating techniques (x axis=time, y axis=calcium).

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Hoechst Dye Visualization of DNA

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Combinations

Combinations of these techniques are also possible, such as:

• 11 color identification & calcium flux & sorting
• 12 color identification & Hoechst DNA & sorting
• 15 color identification & single cell sorting
• Up to 15 color plus forward and side scatter sorting.

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Scheduling and Sample Preparation

• Sign up by sending an email to flowsort@umn.edu. Phone requests will not be accepted. Please include the following information in your message:
  • The fluorescent probes to be used in the procedure
  • The approximate cell size
  • The number of populations to be sorted
  • Whether the sorted sample should be kept aseptic (i.e for culturing)
  • Whether the sample and sorted cells should be kept chilled during the procedure
  • Whether the sample is a biohazard
• Schedules are available online for DiVa sorting and Aria. At these sites you will be able to see the schedule, but you cannot make any changes.
• Please download and read our sorting guidelines (PDF) to help you better prepare yourself for a sort appointment.
• Have your cells suspended in a media that is 5% or less protein, at a concentration of approximately 5,000,000 cells/ml if possible.
• Prepare receiving tubes containing 1+ml of desired media — serum is the best choice. These tubes can be either 12X75mm polystyrene or 15ml conical centrifuge tubes. The smaller tubes will hold about 1,000,000 sorted cells, the larger tubes will hold about 6,000,000 sorted cells.
• Prepare control samples if possible. Especially important are negative controls. Also include single fluorescence stained cells of each probe requiring compensation.

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Scheduling and Sample Preparation for Ca Flux or DNA Cell Cycle

• Contact Paul Champoux at 612-625-7165 and arrange a time for a consultation.
• Have your cells suspended in any media at a concentration of approximately 3,000,000/ml.
• State if your sample is a biohazard.

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Publication Acknowledgment Request

The Flow Core receives grant support from the National Cancer Institute, which should be acknowledged in any publications. The following statement is suggested: "We would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Flow Cytometry Core Facility of the Masonic Cancer Center, a comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute, supported in part by P30 CA77598."

• We would appreciate a reprint of your publications.
• We appreciate your acknowledgment of the Flow Core services in your publications.

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