Yes, we offer training for new users and refreshers to those who may need a refresher.

Once you've undertaken the appropriate training or been certified as competent analysers and cell sorters, times can be booked via the ACLS booking system.

Yes, if you plan to sort on a regular basis cell sorting is a good skill to have. The BD FACS Melody is very user friendly. The Melody is a 3 laser, 8 fluorescent parameters cell sorter that uses BD FACS Chorus software and able to sort up to 2 populations (soon upgraded to 4) into tubes, onto slides and into 96 well plates (with index sorting for single cells). The BD FACS Aria Fusion is a 5 laser 17 fluorescent parameter cell sorter that uses BD FACS Diva software and able to do 4 was sorts (2 way with conflicts), onto slides and into various plates (with Index sorting for single cells).

Yes we do. We have access to FlowJo (Yearly portal seats/licence that can be purchased through ACLS, FlowJo workstations at SAHMRI and AHMS and 2x FlowJo dongles that can be borrowed for 2hr blocks) and FCS Express (Workstation) data analysis software. We can also provide data analysis service for presentation and manuscript preparation.

We would like to be kept up to date and be told as soon as possible if an experiment needs to be cancelled. We try our best to be flexible, accommodating and understanding when it comes to bookings that require cancellations. You have up to 4 hours before the scheduled event to modify or cancel without charge (excluding mass cytometry and Cell sorts). If you edit or cancel your booking within 4 hours before your scheduled event you may be charged at 50% of the full reservation total. Nevertheless, if you cancel your booking within 4 hours of your scheduled event and the time slot is re-booked by another user you will not incur the cancellation charge. Mass Cytometry and cell sorting bookings require 24 hours notice.

Raw data (FCS files) should be saved as soon as possible, preferably as soon as the experiment is completed and before logging out of the cytometer. FCS files should be exported to Ddrive/BDExport/FCS as this folder is backed up on a weekly basis to both P drive and onto an external hard drive. All SAHMRI computers are networked so you can connect to the P drive/Flow Facility/[instrument]/FCS folder.

A suggested publication acknowledgement is:

Flow cytometry analysis and/or cell sorting was performed at the Adelaide Health and BioMedical Precinct Cytometry Facility (AHMS or SAHMRI). The Facility is generously supported by the Detmold Group, McMahon Family, Australian Cancer Research Foundation, Cancer Council and Australian Government through the Zero Childhood Cancer Program.

Please inform us of your publications by either sending us an email so we can update your publication in our records, or directly by entering your publication details onto the ACLS website using My Publications tab). Your publications help support our facility grant which assists in keeping the Facility running.