CRUK Barts Centre Flow Cytometry Service

Contact

Facility Email

Hira Ale
Flow Cytometry Facility Manager

Stephen Rogers
Research Technician

Justin Barclay
Research Technician

+44 20 7882 2119

Flow Cytometry

This Flow Cytometry Facility is equipped with flow cytometry (Conventional and Spectral), imaging cytometry and mass cytometry instrumentation enabling high-throughput, multi-parametric single cell analysis across a number of disciplines.

Location:

2.08 and 211, 2nd Floor, John Vane Science Centre, Charterhouse Square,
Queen Mary University of London,
London
EC1M 6BQ

Opening Hours:

  • Core Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday
  • Cell Sorting Service: Mon 1:00-5:00pm, Tue-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm
  • CyTOF Service: Tue-Fri 10:00am-5:00pm
  • Cytometers/Analysers are open 24/7 for internal users (Trained)
  • x3 Becton Dickinson LSR Fortessa: x2 4L-V-B-Y/G-R and x1 3L-V-B-R
  • x1 Symphony A3 (5 laser system UV-V-B-Y/G-R))
  • x1 Thermo Fisher Attune NXT (3 laser system V-B-R)
  • x1 Amnis/Merck ImageStream X Mark II (3 laser system V-B-R)
  • x1 Cytek Aurora (4 laser system UV-V-B-R)
  • x2 Becton Dickinson ARIA cell sorters ARIA and FUSION (4 Laser system-V-B-Y/G-R)
  • x1 CyTOF2 Mass Cytometer
  • x1 Hyperion Imaging Mass Cytometer
  • All users must undergo training/induction before accessing the facility/instruments (contact us for more details: flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk)
  • All internal users require an authorised iLab account – create your account using this link – with associated budget code. An iLAB account must be created before the planned training/induction.
  • Instruments can be booked using the iLab Booking system.
  • Full training is provided on all the analysers and unsupervised use will only be permitted after the user can demonstrate their ability to use the machine safely.
  • Please ensure that you acknowledge the BCI Flow Cytometry Facility in any publications or presentations that include work carried out in the facility. This is vital to ensure continued funding for the facility, as the cost recovery model in place only partly covers total running costs. Please see below for more details. By accessing the facility you agree and confirm with this policy. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: 

  • The flow cytometry core is funded by Cancer Research UK (CRUK). 
  • Please Acknowledge the CRUK FLOW CYTOMETRY CORE SERVICE GRANT at Barts Cancer Institute (Core Award  C16420/A18066) in ALL presentations and publications.
  • The ImageStream has been funded by THE WELLCOME TRUST. Please Acknowledge THE WELLCOME TRUST in your publications and presentations Grant:101604/Z/13/Z

A brief sentence in the acknowledgement section of a paper is sufficient:

  • This research was supported by the BCI Flow Cytometry Facility “CRUK FLOW CYTOMETRY CORE SERVICE GRANT at Barts Cancer Institute (Core Award C16420/A18066)”.
  • This research was supported by the BCI Flow Cytometry Facility “THE WELLCOME TRUST Grant:101604/Z/13/Z”
  • You may also wish to acknowledge an individual member of staff (delete as appropriate): In particular, we thank [name] for their advice and support in flow cytometry/cell sorting/CyTOF/ImageStream/Attune Nxt/Fortessa/Symphony A3/Cytek Aurora

At the CRUK Barts Centre Flow Cytometry Facility, cell sorting and CyTOF are dedicated services provided by the facility. These services can be requested via the facility email (flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk). This is a first-come-first serve policy.

  • x2 Becton DickinsonARIA cell sorters (ARIA and FUSION): Multi-parameter fluorescent activated cell sorters to isolate and recover your cells of interest for various post-sorting application (eg. Cell culture, sequencing, transplantation etc). The cells of interest can be sorted (collection) into 1.5ml Eppendorf, standard Facs tube, 15ml falcon tube or U/V/flat bottom plates (6, 12,24,48,96 and 384).
  • x1 CyTOF2 Mass Cytometer: The Fluidigm CyTOF 2 is a Mass Cytometer for Phenotypic analysis of single cells using Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry. This system uses heavy metal isotope-conjugated antibodies instead of fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies and subsequently detecting them using Time of Flight Mass Spectometry. It is capable of detecting 30+ different antigens and so is ideal for deep-immunophenotyping valuable samples. The team will run the samples and normalise the data for the user.

Full training and support are available from the flow cytometry team:

  • Training on all the analysers (Fortessa, Symphony A3, Attune, ImageStream, CytekAurora)
  • Post training experiment and compensation set-up
  • Protocol optimisation/development
  • Panel optimisation
  • Troubleshooting and all relevant enquiries
  • Data Analysis (FlowJo, FCSExpress, Ideas, Cytobank)
  • Regular seminars for continuous development (new instrumentation, data analysis, protocol/panel development)

Internal users: please visit the Intranet

Queen Mary University of London users: please contact the Facility email flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk

For external users, please see below price list:

Equipment name Rate per hour
Academic users Non-academic users
Fortessa 1 (4L-V-B-Y/G-R) £50 £75
Fortessa 2 (4L-V-B-Y/G-R) £50 £75
Fortessa 3 (3L-V-B-R) £40 £60
Symphony A3 (5L-UV-V-B-Y/G-R) £50 £75
Attune (3L-V-B-R) £40 £60
ImageStream (3L-V-B-R) £60 £90
CytekAurora (4L-UV-V-B-R) £50 £75
Cell Sorter (Fusion/Aria) (4L-V-B-Y/G-R) £80 £130
CyTOF £80 £130

Fortessa: Equipped with 3/4 LASERS: 405nm VIOLET, 488nm BLUE, 561nm YELLOW/GREEN and 640nm RED

  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 14 (3 laser system) and 16 (4 laser system) different fluorescent channels simultaneously.
  • This instrument is ideal for high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc.

Symphony A3: Equipped with 5 LASERS: 355nm Ultra Violet, 405nm Violet, 488nm Blue laser, 561nm Yellow-Green and 637nm Red  

  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 28 different fluorescent channels simultaneously. 
  • This instrument is ideal for high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc.

Attune NxT: Equipped with 3 LASERS:405nm VIOLET, 488nm BLUE and 637nm RED

  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 11 different fluorescent channels simultaneously (or 10 when using violet side scatter for whole blood analysis).
  • This instrument is ideal for high-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping, immumo-phenotyping etc.
  • This is a very high-throughput system due to acoustic focusing (5-10X faster than other analysers)
  • Automated Plate Acquisition (flat/V/U 96* 384 well plate)
  • Whole Blood Analysis Capability (using the violet side-scatter, VL1)
  • Besides the standard Facs tube, Attune can also accomodate 1.5ml and 2ml eppendorf
  • Unused samples can be recovered (i.e unused samples will be returned to the facs tube)

ImageStream: Equipped with 2 CCD cameras and 3 LASERS:405nm VIOLET Laser, 488nm BLUE Laser and 633nm RED

  • Imaging Cytometry (ImageStream) combines high throughput flow cytometry with imaging. This analyser is capable of detecting up to 10 different fluorescent channels simultaneously (or 9 when using side-scatter) + 2 brightfield. The cytometer allows direct imaging of the cellular components of the sample with 20x, 40x and 60x magnification.
  • High-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping and immumo-phenotyping
  • ImageStream combines flow cytometry with fluorescence microscopy and is ideal for particularly functional studies eg. translocation, internalization, co-localization, cell shape changes, spot counting, immunological synapse and much more.

CytekAurora: Equipped with 4 LASERS: 355nm ULTRAVIOLET,405nm VIOLET, 488nm BLUE and 635nm RED

  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to minimum 30 fluorescent channels simultaneously and with careful panel design potentially can be pushed up to 35 fluorescent channels.
  • This 4-laser system will measure the FULL fluorescence signal (not just maximum emission) of each given fluorochrome where each fluorochrome will have a unique signature. Given that the instrument measures unique signatures (spectral signal) this instrument is capable of separating close/similar fluorochromes  (eg. GFP vs AF488, APC vs. AF647) which currently is not possible with any of the other instruments available.
  • In addition, the instrument will also consider autofluorescence and reduces the impact of autofluorescence, thus giving a powerful tool for high parameter experiment/analysis.
  • High-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis eg. Phenotyping and immumo-phenotyping
  • In addition to normal Facs tube, this instrument can accommodate 96 well plate for high throughput and autonomous work

Cell sorters (Fusion & Aria): Equipped with 4 LASERS:405nm VIOLET, 488nm BLUE, 561nm YELLOW/GREEN and 640nm RED

  • This analyser is capable of detecting up to 14-18 different fluorescent channels simultaneously. 
  • The instrument allows the aseptic separation of different cell types. It is equipped to sort up to four different cell populations (targets) simultaneously.
  • High-throughput multi-parameter single cell analysis and sorting. Multi-parameter fluorescent activated cell sorting to isolate and recover your cells of interest for various post sorting application (eg. Cell culture, sequencing, transplantation etc).
  • The cells of interest can be sorted (collection) into 1.5ml Eppendorf, standard Facs tube, 15ml falcon tube or U/V/flat bottom plates (6, 12,24,48,96 and 384).
  • Cell sorting is a dedicated service provided by the Charterhouse Flow Cytometry Facility. The service can be requested via the Flow Cytometry lab/team (flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk). The services are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Aria II: Consists of four lasers- violet (405nm), blue (488nm), yellow/green (561nm) and red (633nm)-and is capable of measuring up to 14 parameters.

Aria Fusion in a Biosafety Cabinet: Consists of four lasers- violet (405nm), blue (488nm), yellow/green (561nm) and red (633nm) and is capable of measuring up to 18 parameters. The sorter is in a biosafety cabinet allowing the processing of unscreened human material.


CyTOF & Hyperion: Multi-parameter analysis using Time of Flight Mass Cytometry.

  • CyTOF 2: The Fluidigm CyTOF 2 is a Mass Cytometer for Phenotypic analysis of single cells using Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry. This technology provides next generation single cell analysis of cells in suspension with the ability to investigate over 30 cellular parameters simultaneously. This system uses heavy metal isotope-conjugated antibodies instead of fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies thus reducing spill over issue (and complex panel design) and the need for compensation. This makes it the perfect tool for gaining a large amount of information where sampling material is limited and for carrying out complex deep-phenotyping of rare cell types.
  • CyTOF is a dedicated service provided by the Charterhouse Flow Cytometry Facility. The service can be requested via the Flow Cytometry lab/team (flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk). The services are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis.
  • Hyperion: Imaging Mass Cytometry harnesses the multiparametric power of mass cytometry in a slide-based format; permitting simultaneous interrogation of up to 37 markers of interest in both FFPE and frozen tissue sections. Please contact Najah Islam (najah.islam@qmul.ac.uk) for more information.

Various analysis software are available to our trained users (users of the Charterhouse Flow Cytometry Facility). Access to these resources can be requested via the facility email (flowcytometry@qmul.ac.uk). This is a first-come-first-serve policy and access can be reserved for 24hrs at a time.

  • x2 FlowJo Dongle
  • X1 FCSExpress (internet dongle)
  • X1 Cytobank licence
  • IDEAS SOFTWARE (ImageStream Analysis), unlimited