Research

UMDNJ-NJMS Flow Cytometry and Immunology Core Laboratory

The Flow Cytometry Core Lab provides support to the NJMS research community as well as to surrounding universities and private companies for applications involving flow cytometric analysis, cell sorting and imaging flow cytometry.

Resources available

Flow cytometric analysis:

•  Three BD Biosciences FACSCaliburs each having a dual laser capacity (an air-cooled 488 nm argon laser and a red diode laser) with capabilities to do up to four color analysis and an HTS sampler for multiwell sampling. One of the BD FACSCaliburs is located in the NJMS � University Hospital Cancer Center.

•  LSR II air-cooled four-laser benchtop flow cytometer (BD Biosciences Immunocytometry Systems) with the ability to acquire 12 colors. BD digital software (DIVA) provides both online and offline compensation running in a Windows based environment. It includes a solid-state 488nm (blue) laser, a JDS Uniphase 633 HeNe laser (red), a Coherent 405nm laser (violet) and a sold-state 355nm laser (UV) with the ability to detect 5 colors from the blue laser, 3 colors from the red laser, 2 colors from the Violet laser and 2 colors off the UV laser utilizing fiber optic technology.

Cell sorting:

•  FACSVantage SE TM with the FACSDiVa upgrade cell sorter, which provides high performance, high speed, multi-color (up to 7 markers) cell sorting, with capability for single cell sorting into multi-well trays for clonal expansion. This cell sorter from BD Biosciences has a water-cooled Enterprise Laser that has a 488nm argon and UV component and an air-cooled HeNe laser for use when more complex studies are required. A Cytek Aerosol Containment System is also available for the cell sorter.

Imaging Flow Cytometry:

•  Amnis ImageStream (Amnis Corporation) imaging flow cytometer that is equipped with 488 nm and 658 nm lasers and an extended depth of field module. This instrument, which operates in a Windows-based environment, introduces a new technology platform that captures high-resolution digital images of cells in flow at rates of approximately 100 cells/per second. It simultaneously acquires up to six different images of each cell, including four colors of sensitive fluorescence imagery, side scatter and brightfield imagery. The ImageStream combines the quantification and analysis of cellular morphology with the ability to perform all the fluorescence intensity measurements of conventional flow cytometry, allowing for rapid analysis and classification of thousands of cells using the ImageStream IDEAS software. The IDEAS software calculates over 100 parameters per cell, including all the standard intensity-based parameters and statistics employed in flow cytometry as well as numerous morphological parameters such as cell area, perimeter, aspect ratio, texture, spot counts and internalization ratios. The ImageStream is ideally suited for quantitative investigations of nuclear translocation, phagocytosis, intracellular co-localization, apoptosis, cell: cell interactions and fluorescent in situ hybridization in suspension.

Software resources :

•  Additional software available for use in multiparameter studies includes BD Bioscience CellQuest for the Caliburs, Modfit LT software for DNA and cell proliferation analysis, HTS software for the HTS sampler, and BDDiva software for the LSRII and the Cell sorter. For the ImageStream, the IDEAS software package is available which can be used in the Flow Cytometry Core Lab at the additional ImageStream workstation. The IDEAS software is also available to UMDNJ-NJMS researchers for use in their laboratories through our site license.

•  The Core Laboratory also adminsters a university site license for FlowJo analysis software.  Please go to the Charges and Policies link below for pricing and availability.

Facilities use

Equipment time and services at the Flow Cytometry Core Lab are available to investigators on an hourly fee-based schedule.

Charges and Policies