Flow Cytometry

Flow cytometry is widely used in biomedical research, as well as environmental testing and monitoring.

Some typical applications include sorting and analysing human and other biological lymphocytes, stem cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, tumor cells, drug discovery and testing.

On this page you will find the following information:

• What is Flow Cytometry?
• About the Laboratory
• Location
• Websites
• Contact Us

What is Flow Cytometry?

Flow cytometry, typically using fluorescent probes which bind to specific cell associated molecules, allows measurements of various phenotypic, biochemical and molecular characteristics of individual cells (or particles) suspended in a fluid stream.

As the cells flow past a focused laser beam of appropriate wavelength, the probes fluoresce and the emitted light is collected and directed to appropriate detectors.

These detectors, in turn, translate these light signals into electronic signals proportional to the amount of light collected. Information regarding the relative size and granularity of a cell, for example, is also obtained as these characteristics influence the way in which light is scattered as the cell passes through the laser beam.

The use of flow cytometry at WMI can be divided into two broad categories; analysis and cell sorting.

• Analysis
  

  The ability of flow cytometers to evaluate cells at an extremely rapid rate (e.g. up to 20,000 events per second) makes this technology ideally suited for the reliable and accurate quantitative analysis of selected physical properties of cells of interest.
  
  

  The sensitivity of these instruments for detecting the presence of molecules expressed at low levels is impressive; given high quality cell preparations and reagents, as few as 500 molecules per cell may be detected.

• Cell Sorting
  

  One of the properties of the larger flow cytometers is the ability to electronically deflect cells with preset, defined properties into a separate collection tube.
  
  

  For cell purification, flow cytometry is especially well suited for applications requiring high purity.
  
  Because multiple fluorochromes (e.g. up to five distinct fluorescent probes reacting with different cell associated molecules) can be assessed simultaneously, cell sorting by flow cytometry can separate complex mixtures of cells on the basis of multiple marker expression.
  

About the Laboratory

Flow Cytometry is a core laboratory open to all WMI, CMRI and CHW investigators.

Bookings

On line bookings are essential for all flow cytometers, to access on line booking and/or cell sorting requests please go to http://www.chw.edu.au/research/hub.

Training

The technology of flow cytometry is rapidly growing and highly technical. Errors in sample acquisition and/or data analysis are common among poorly trained users and can lead to misleading and/or unreliable data.

The laboratory staff are committed to providing training and education for all the laboratory users.

Group training sessions (at several levels) are available and individual help is provided whenever possible. Contact staff personnel for specific information regarding training sessions.

Typically, new WMI staff that will be using the flow cytometry laboratory are given an orientation (one 1.5 hour session) to cover the broad scope of laboratory use and some specifics on the use of the cytometers.

Users that want additional training or people new to flow cytometry are encouraged to contact Maggie Wang for personal assistance.

Location

The following table shows the types of flow cytometres and their location.

Websites

The websites for the Fluorescence SpectraViewer are:

• http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/support/Research-Tools/Fluorescence-SpectraViewer.html
• http://www.invitrogen.com/site/us/en/home/support/Research-Tools/Fluorescence-SpectraViewer.html
  

Contact Us

Dr Maggie Wang
Scientist in-Charge

T +61 2 9845 9004

E maggie_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au