Our mission is to provide complete flow cytometry analysis and cell sorting services in terms of experimental design, instrumentation, training, technical assistance and scientific guidance.
The fee-for-service LDI Flow Cytometry Facility provides researchers and clinicians with instrumentation, scientific expertise and guidance. It consists of two flow cytometer analyzers: a Sony ID7000 (a BD LSR Fortessa and a BD FACSCanto II) and a BSL 2 cell sorter (BD FACSAria Fusion). It is also equipped with an automated cell counter. The CellDrop FL cell counter (Denovix) allows accurate cell counting and cell size determination. Several flow cytometry data analysis stations are also available.
With an array of lasers, prisms, mirrors and filters, flow cytometry instruments enable us to look at several physical and fluorescent parameters of a single cell. These physical and fluorescent parameters can be analyzed simultaneously, and since flow cytometers can analyze hundreds of cells per second, large populations of cells can easily be quantitatively characterized. It is this parameter multiplexing capability that makes flow cytometry an extremely versatile and powerful tool for both researchers and clinicians. In addition, fluorescence activated cell sorters can physically separate these populations in different vessels or deposit single cells into a multiwell plate for cloning.
Flow cytometry (FCM) is a versatile technology, which allows for quantification of fluorescence and structural features of particles (most commonly cells). FCM analyzers provide rapid quantitative analysis of particles in suspension or soluble proteins from serum, fractioned cells, trypsinized cells or dissociated tissue. Researchers and clinicians can obtain several statistics on a single cell and population level. Cell sorters can also analyze particles and, in addition, can physically separate cells of interest at high purity for downstream assays. A non-exhaustive list of different flow cytometry assays is listed below.
There are three major components to a flow cytometer: fluidics, optics and electronics. With exquisite pressure control and precise flow cell or nozzle design, the fluidics system hydrodynamicly focuses the sample and aligns the cells in single file. The cells then flow through the heart of the system, the interrogation point, where the fluidics meets the optics.
The optics is composed of both light excitation and light collection modules. At the interrogation point, lasers are used to scan each cell one after the other to assess their physical and fluorescent parameters. The amount of light diffracted in line with the laser (Forward Scatter; FSC) provides an indication of size and laser diffraction at about 90o (Side Scatter, SSC) provides an indication of cell complexity or granularity. In addition, cells can be labeled with reporter proteins, fluorescent dyes or fluorescently labeled antibodies, which selectively marks cells of interest. These sets of markers or color panels must be carefully chosen to be excited by the available excitation light source (lasers) and emit fluorescence at an emission wavelength of light that is distinctly collected by available band-pass filters.
The electronics components take advantage of photodiodes and ultra sensitive photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) to convert light, defined by the band-pass filters, into electronic pulses. These pulses are integrated, digitalized and sent to the acquisitions station, where the data can be interpreted.
The advantage of using FCM is that it is an extremely fast system and a relatively small quantity of sample is needed. Furthermore, in multiparameter FCM, several fluorescent parameters or colors are analyzed simultaneously. We can for example identify the phenotype and ascertain viability, vitality, proliferative capacity and cell cycle state of each cell. Therefore, since thousands of cells can be quickly analyzed, we can identify extremely rare cell populations and also obtain population statistics with greater accuracy.
Sensitive digital high-speed cell sorter
Flow cytometry cell sorting
Detect 20 parameters; 18 colours
4-way bulk cell sorting
Single cell sorting for cloning
BSL I and BLS II samples
Interchangeable nozzle
Interchangeable emission filters
Adjustable sheath pressure
Facility staff only
Contact LDI Flow Cytometry Facility staff
Complete LDI Cell Sorting Request Form
Full spectrum flow cytometer
Flow cytometry analysis
24 tube rack HTS
96/384-well plate HTS
Detects 184 parameters; 182 colors
Spectral detection from 360nm to 844nm
Analysis of virtually any fluorophore
BSL I samples
BSL II samples, please inquire
Spectral analysis
Virtual filter
Technical assistance by facility staff
Trained users
LDI Core Booking Calendar
Sensitive digital flow cytometer
equipped with a High Throughput Sampler
(HTS)
Flow cytometry analysis
96-well plate HTS
Detects 20 parameters; 18 colors
BSL I samples
Interchangeable emission filters
Technical assistance by facility staff
Trained users
LDI Core Booking Calendar
Digital clinical grade flow cytometer
Flow cytometry analysis
Detects 8 parameters; 6 colors
BSL I samples
Interchangeable emission filters
Technical assistance by facility staff
Trained users
LDI Core Booking Calendar
Fluorescent Cell counter
Automated live/dead cell counting using trypan blue or adridine orange/propidium iodide
Calculates cell diameter
BSL I samples direct pipetting
BSL II samples using disposable slides
None
Trained users
No booking required, first come
first serve
Flow Cytometry Services | Minimum Time Charged (min) | Internal McGill | External Academic | External Commercial |
Sony ID7000 Full Spectrum Analyser | 15 | 35.00 | 85.00 | 100.00 |
BD LSR Fortessa HTS Analyser | 15 | 30.00 | 65.00 | 80.00 |
BD FACSCanto II Analyser | 15 | 30.00 | 65.00 | 80.00 |
BD FACSAria Fusion – Cell Sorting | 60 | 80.00 | 100.00 | 200.00 |
Denovic CellDrop Cell Counter | N/A | Free | Free | N/A |
Analyser Technical Assistance (Additional) | 60 | 35.00 | 65.00 | 100.00 |
Analyser Training (Additional) | 60 | 35.00 | 65.00 | 100.00 |
Data Analysis/Consultation | 60 | 35.00 | 65.00 | 100.00 |
The LDI core facilities uses the LDI Core Scheduler accessible through the web
The FACSAria Fusion cell sorter is operated by a core facility staff. To schedule a cell sorting experiment please follow these instructions.
LDI Students and Staff:
Please login to our LDI Core Scheduling system and book the FACSAria Fusion instrument
Fill and send the Cell Sorting Request form and the High Risk Cell Sorting form if required.
Your booking will be approved if an operator is available and form(s) received.
External Users:
Please contact the LDI Flow Cytometry Facility to make an appointment.
Trained users can operate the ID7000, LSR Fortessa, FACSCanto II and CellDrop FL Cell Counter unassisted 24/7 at the LDI Flow Cytometry Facility. To request an instrument training session, please contact the core facility by email and fill out a User Information Form.
A highly qualified LDI Flow Cytometry Facility staff can acquire and analyze your flow cytometry experiments. Please contact us to make an appointment. We will access the feasibility of your experiment and schedule your run.
Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Rm E-415
Jewish General Hospital
3999 Côte Ste-Catherine Road
Montreal, Qc
H3T 1E2
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