Cell Sorters

Becton Dickinson SORP FACSAria

CSCI Flow Cytometry maintains two 20-parameter, 18-color cell FACSAria instruments, “Jupiter” and “Neptune”,  equipped with 5 high-powered, spatially-separated laser lines. The CSCI Flow Cytometry FACSAria cell sorters are reliable workhorse machines that consistently isolate cells of high purity, recovery and viability.

The FACSAria is controlled by FACSDiva software, so users who are familiar with this package on a BD cell analyzer (e.g. LSR Fortessa, Symphony A5) can easily transition to the FACSAria.

You can find the instrument configurations here.

FACSAria Laser Lines (adjustable power):

  • 355 nm – 60 mW
  • 405 nm – 100 mW
  • 488 nm – 100 mW
  • 561 nm – 100 mW
  • 637 nm – 140 mW

Note that the configurations of both “Jupiter” and “Neptune” are identical, facilitating portability of experiments between the two instruments.

FACSAria features include:

  • Highly stable fixed-alignment optics that greatly simplify setup and troubleshooting
  • Next-generation square cuvette which offers superior fluorescence sensitivity and superb recovery performance for cells of all sizes, including large and fragile cells
  • Four nozzle sizes - 70 μm, 85 μm, 100 μm, and 130 μm to accommodate cell types of various sizes and robustness
  • 4-way sorting into a variety of tube types, including 1.5 mL, 5 mL, and 15 mL tubes
  • Direct deposition into a variety of plate types, including 96-well, 384-well, and Terasaki plates
  • Temperature control of both sample input and sorted fraction
  • Integrated bubble detector on sample path, allowing sorting of entire volume sample without the worry of introduction of air bubbles into the sample fluidics
  • Aerosol Management Systems (AMS) for biosafety concerns

Important: “Neptune” is equipped with a “BioBubble” Class I biosafety cabinet, while Jupiter” is not. All sorting of primary human tissue must be performed using “Neptune.”

Sony MA900 Multi-Application Cell Sorter

CSCI Flow Cytometry maintains two Sony MA900 cell sorters: "Mars" and "Venus". The Sony MA900 is a benchtop cell sorter equipped with 4 lasers (405 nm, 488nm, 561 nm, 638 nm) and capable of measuring 14 optical parameters (12 fluorescence channels and 2 light scatter channels). The Sony is built around its highly innovative and proprietary sorting chip, which combines microfluidics with traditional electrostatic droplet sorting. This technology facilitates a degree of automation and ease-of-use not offered by any other cell sorter. Sorting chips are available in 100, 130 and 70 um sizes with associated pressures to accommodate a wide variety of cell types. The MA900 can simultaneously collect up to 4 unique cell populations into tubes (1.5, 5, and 15 mL) and is capable of direct deposition down to the single-cell level into up to 384-well plates.

You can find the Sony MA900 configuration here.

  • Fully automated startup and maintenance features and intuitive software facilitate and extremely high level of usability for independent operation
  • Three nozzle sizes: 100, 130 and 70 μm
  • Proprietary sorting chip for ease of use and stability
  • 4-way sorting into 1.5 mL, 5 mL, and 15 mL tubes
  • Direct plate deposition down to single cells into any plate type up to 384-wells
  • Temperature control of both sample input and output
  • Demonstrated high performance in terms of purity, recovery and viability
  • Housed in a Class II biosafety cabinet for sorting of primary human tissue