Introduction

The Cytometry Unit at IJC was created to answer the growing internal demand for cytometry services. It is a unit that coordinates with the neighbouring IGTP Cytometry Unit to share resources and long-standing expertise. This cooperation lines up with the directions from the CERCA (Centres de Recerca de Catalunya) and ISCIII (Instituto de Salud Carlos III) institutions resulting in an inter-institutional unit that stakes with the most advanced cytometry facilities in the European Union.

The IJC Cytometry Unit is equipped with two analysers (FACSCanto II and Symphony A1) and the first spectral flow cytometer sorter with sort-capable image analysis (Discovery S8). The IGTP Cytometry Unit is equipped with four analysers (FACSCantoII, Symphony A1, LSR Fortessa and the Aurora 5L), two cell sorters (Aria II and Bigfoot 5L) and a Luminex FlexMAP 3D. These cytometers are under constant supervision and maintenance of our technical staff to guarantee their excellent performance.

Moreover, the Cytometry Unit offers personal trainings on specific equipment as well as extensive yearly courses for more in-deep learning of the methodology. Other supports regarding flow cytometry are offered like sample preparation and staining, acquisition, data analysis, panel design or advanced high dimensional analyses.

Services

IJC Unit

• Acquisition FACSCantoII

Sample acquisition (tube/plate) for single-event fluorescence analysis of suspension samples

• Acquisition Symphony A1

Sample acquisition (tube/plate) for single-event fluorescence analysis of suspension samples

• Cell Sorting Discovery S8

Sample acquisition (tube) for single-event simultaneous purification of up to 6 different populations based on fluorescence and image parameters. The cell sorter also supports single cell plate deposition with index sorting. The Discovery S8 cell sorter works as a full-spectrum based cytometer allowing for spectral unmixing and autofluorescence substraction.

IGTP Unit

• Acquisition FACSCantoII

Sample acquisition (tube) for single-event fluorescence analysis of suspension samples

• Acquisition Symphony A1

Sample acquisition (tube/plate) for single-event fluorescence analysis of suspension samples

• Acquisition LSR Fortessa

Sample acquisition (tube/plate) for single-event fluorescence analysis of suspension samples

• Acquisition Cytek Aurora

Sample acquisition (tube) for single-event fluorescence analysis of suspension samples

• Cell Sorting Aria II

Samples acquisition (tube) for single-event simultaneous purification of up to 6 different populations based on fluorescence signal.

• Cell Sorting Bigfoot

Sample acquisition (tube, Eppendorf and falcon) for single-event simultaneous purification of up to 6 different populations based on fluorescence and image parameters. The cell sorter also supports single cell plate deposition with index sorting as well as up to simultaneous 4-way sort into plates. The Bigfoot cell sorter works as a full-spectrum based cytometer allowing for spectral unmixing and autofluorescence substraction.

• Luminex FlexMAP 3D

The Luminex equipment is aimed to detect soluble proteins/antigens multiplexed to up to 500 different analytes in the same sample/well. This is a bead-based technology allowing to screen and quantify hundreds of analytes with minimal sample input.