Flow Cytometry
The Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF) Cellular Imaging and Cytometry Core Facility is based at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and part of the Adelaide Health and BioMedical Precinct Cytometry (AHBMPC) Facility.
The AHBPC facility is a joint shared resource laboratory located within both SAHMRI and the Adelaide Health and Medical Science (AHMS) institutions.
The ACRF Cellular Imaging and Cytometry Core Facility at SAHMRI has 6 cell analysers (3x conventional, 1x Spectral, 1x mass cytometer and 1x laser scanning cytometer) and 2 cell sorters which were generously funded by Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), Zero Childhood Cancer Program (ZCC), Cancer Council, Detmold Group and the McMahon Family.
Staff provide thorough training to researchers to maintain upkeep and the high standards of which are assumed of the facility. Quality control and maintenance by facility staff is kept by running Cytometer Setup and Tracking Beads™ or QC Beads™ on respective machines.
Our vision, purpose and values are that we enable reproducible quality research by having access to state-of-the-art instruments and knowledgeable staff. The AHBMPC facility make quality research accessible while being flexible, accommodating and collaborative.
Services and Capabilities
- SAHMRI/ AHMS research groups, SAHMRI/ AHMS partners, groups within the BioMed Precinct and greater research community access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and training.
- BASIC cytometric analysis on the 3-laser BD FACSCanto II and LSR Fortessa, to ADVANCED multiparametric flow cytometry on the BD FACSymphony A5 and spectral analysis on the 5-laser powered Cytek Aurora.
- Up to 4-way 5-laser aseptic cell sorting on the BD FACSAria Fusion and 2-way cell sorting by the 3-laser BD -FACSMelody. Cell sorting in the facility allows for a wide range of downstream analyses such as DNA and RNA sequencing, cell culture, and protein analysis to be performed.
- Exclusive mass cytometry using the Helios CyTOF Mass Cytometer analysing cells by elemental analysis.
- Dual imaging and cytometric analysis with the iCys laser scanning cytometer.
- Training Tuesdays to provide up to date training to new students or researchers on running cytometers (both analysers and cell sorters), data analysis and troubleshooting.
- Sample preparation and analysis service for groups without wet labs.
- High quality, reproducible, reliable data analysis to assist in the advances of all biomedical research.
If you would like more information about the instrument, pricing, policies and how ACRF Cellular Imaging and Cytometry core facility can be applied to your research project, or be trained in its use, please contact the Facility Manager.
Equipment list
- Centre for Cancer Biology
- Burns Unit - Skin Engineering Laboratory, CALHN
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide
- Reproductive Immunology Group, University of Adelaide
- Dame Roma Mitchell Cancer Research Laboratories, University of Adelaide
- Neurogenetics Group, University of Adelaide
- Ovarian and Reproductive Cancer Group, University of Adelaide
- Adelaide Centre for Epigenetics, University of Adelaide
- Functional Genomics South Australia Core Facility, University of Adelaide
- Immunology and Infection Group, University of Adelaide
- Single Cell and Spatial Omics Group, University of Adelaide
- SAiGENCI, University of Adelaide
- Chemokine Biology Laboratory, University of Adelaide
- Vascular Biology and Cell Trafficking Laboratory, University of Adelaide
FAQs
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.
Sponsors and partnerships
SAHMRI is located on Kaurna Country. We pay respects to the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We are committed to embracing knowledge and culture as we continue our working journey to incorporate Aboriginal health research across all of our themes and further reconciliation.
Read more"Tirki nguta tappa tangka marninithi"
(Learning and knowledge are the pathway to alter the mind)
- Uncle Lewis Yerloburka O’Brien, Kaurna Elder
