Flow Cytometry Training and Education

Cell Sorters

FACSAria

CSCI Flow Cytometry offers two options for FACSAria hands-on training: Comprehensive and Refresher.

Users will receive a training packet for usage during the sessions and to keep for later reference.

Comprehensive Training

Comprehensive training is broken down into four 2-hour sessions.

Duration: 8 hours in four 2-hour sessions

Cost: $1000

This training program is designed for users who have no or minimal experience using the FACSAria. Users may or may not have experience with FACSDiva.

Topics covered include:

  • Policies and standard operating procedures for independent usage
  • Hardware and software overview
  • FACSAria startup and setup (QC)
  • Creating an experiment in FACSDiva for a 3-color sort without compensation
  • Creating an experiment in FACSDiva with an 8-color sort with compensation
  • Shutdown
  • Basic maintenance and troubleshooting

Refresher Training

Refresher training is broken down into two 2-hour sessions.

Cost: $250

This training program is designed for users who have experience using the FACSAria but need some further training to be confident independent operators.

Note: Users who have been fully-trained at other institutions must complete refresher training before gaining independent operator status.

Topics included in training depend on the user's prior experience and knowledge. Users will also become familiar with CSCI Flow Cytometry policies for and standard operating procedures for independent operation.

Sony MA900

Duration: 4 hours in 2 separate sessions

Cost: $500

Users will receive a training packet for usage during the sessions and to keep for later reference.

Session 1:

  • MA900 startup and setup
  • Multicolor experiment setup (3-color, 5-color or 8-color, depending on user's needs) using samples prepared by CSCI Flow Cytometry

Session 2:

Supervised run with either user's sample or sample prepared by CSCI Flow Cytometry

Cell Analyzers

Agilent NovoCyte

Cost: $300

Duration: 3 hours in a 2-hour followed by a 1-hour session

Users will receive a training packet for usage during the sessions and to keep for later reference.

Session 1:

  • NovoCyte startup and QC
  • Software overview
  • Experiment setup of either a 3-color or 8-color panel, depending on the user's needs. Training samples will be provided by CSCI Flow Cytometry.
  • Basic troubleshooting and maintenance
  • Shutdown

Session 2:

  • Supervised run with user's own samples or samples provided by the core facility.

Note: Users with prior experience using the Bio-Rad ZE5 platform are required to attend a 15-minute orientation before gaining independent operator status.

Bio-Rad ZE5

Cost: $300

Duration: 3 hours in a 2-hour followed by a 1-hour session

Users will receive a training packet for usage during the sessions and to keep for later reference.

Session 1:

  • ZE5 startup and QC
  • Software overview
  • Experiment setup of either a 3-color or 8-color panel, depending on the user's needs. Training samples will be provided by CSCI Flow Cytometry.
  • Basic troubleshooting and maintenance
  • Shutdown

Session 2:

Supervised run with user's own samples or samples provided by the core facility.

Note: Users with prior experience using the Bio-Rad ZE5 platform are required to attend a 15-minute orientation before gaining independent operator status.

10x Genomics

CSCI Flow Cytometry, in collaboration with the Columbia Genome Center, offers access to the 10X Genomics 3’ v3 or 5’ v2 scRNA-seq workflow on a self-use basis. After comprehensive training, users will have unrestricted access to the 10X Chromium controller and workspace located in the CSCI Flow Cytometry core for generation of barcoded single-cell cDNA from isolated cells.  Users will have the option to submit their single-stranded cDNA emulsions to the Columbia Single Cell Analysis Core (SCC), which will provide library construction, quality control, sequencing, and bioinformatics services. Alternatively, users can independently generate cDNA libraries in their labs and submit samples for sequencing services as they choose. CSCI Flow Cytometry supports only the 10X Next GEM and cDNA generation workflow; library preparation and sequencing is not included in this service. The Next GEM workflow is entirely user-driven so that users can process their samples after hours and in cases where experiments are unpredictable.

For more information, please refer to our 10x Genomics Service Description.