The Advanced Flow Cytometry Platform operates three BD Biosciences "Aria" cell sorters equipped with 3 or 5 lasers and nozzle size options between 70 and 130 micron.
They allow for high-speed multicolour sorting with digital acquisition rates of up to 20,000 events per second.
Aria 1 is a FACSAriaII, Aria 2 is a FACSAriaII SORP and Aria 3 is a FACSAriaFusion SORP.
All our sorters allow two and four way bulk sorting into a variety of tube sizes or can sort using Automated Cell Deposition Unit (ACDU) to multi-well plates or microscope slides in single cell or bulk cell modes. Index sorting and sample and collection tube cooling is available on all instruments. The Aria cell sorters use FACSDiva software for acquisition.
5 laser, 20 parameter SORP instruments (355 nm (nUV), 405 nm (violet), 488nm (blue), 561nm (Yellow-green), 633 nm (red). ACDU and Aerosol Management system installed. Laser/Detector and filter configuration (3 Blue/3 Red/5 Violet /2 nUV/ 5 Yellow-Green).
See configuration in iLab on the Equipment tab, click on description next to instrument.
Note: The Flow core laboratory owns a large set of optional filters as well, but they are not routinely installed on the cytometer. If you require a different filter configuration for a specific fluorochrome, please inform the facility staff in advance. Obtaining filters for novel dyes may take several weeks. Due to the fast growing number of dyes on the market the above list is by no means exhaustive, please ask the Flow Core Laboratory staff if you are unsure which filter to use.
Aria 2 and 3 are exclusively operated by Flow Core staff. The instruments and operators are available for sorts Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. All sorts are run with sterile 1x PBS as sheath buffer. Sort slots are requested by users via iLab on the respective sorter calendars. Only after facility review and acceptance of the requested time the booking will become binding. The flow cytometry laboratory staff will review all sort requests and strive to avoid large blocks of unused time to maximize access. To cancel a sort, please complete the sort cancellation form available in the Request Services tab in iLab, email cancellations are not accepted as we need a complete audit trail of all bookings.
No longer available for booking except self-service use.
3 laser, 12 parameter instrument (405 nm (violet), 488nm (blue), 633 nm (red). ACDU installed. Laser, detector and filter configuration 6 Blue/3 Red/3:
See configuration in iLab on the Equipment tab, click on description next to instrument.
Note: The Flow core laboratory owns a large set of optional filters as well, but they are not routinely installed on the cytometer. If you require a different filter configuration for a specific fluorochrome, please inform the facility staff in advance. Obtaining filters for novel dyes may take several weeks. Due to the fast growing number of dyes on the market the above list is by no means exhaustive, please ask the Flow Core Laboratory staff if you are unsure which filter to use.
The machine is no longer bookable - it is facility operated during regular business hours as a backup instrument. Trained and approved users can however obtain after hours and weekend access. (Monday to Friday earliest booking: 5:30 PM if no facility sorts are ongoing).
Only advanced flow cytometry users can obtain after hour and weekend access to the self service Aria 1. To become a self-service user, applicants must be approved by the Head of the BRC Flow Cytometry Platform and have a certificate of completing an official BD Aria operator training course. After approval, users will be issued with a username and password, which allows access to the sorter.
Flow core staff reserve the right to review and/or revoke access to the self-service ARIA if a user repeatedly fails to safely operate the sorter. Flow Core staff also reserve the right to review and/or alter the time booked on Aria 1 to allow maximum access to the sorter for all users.
Self-service users are responsible for filling and emptying of all fluidics and for instrument setup and cleaning. All sorts are run routinely with sterile 1x PBS as sheath buffer.