1. To provide state-of-the-art flow cytometric analysis capabilities and service to UAB CFAR members and members of the UAB research community. The facility makes available dedicated high cost capital equipment together with a trained and highly experienced operator.

2. To provide continuous education and training to Core users to ensure that current and potential new core facility users have access to theoretical and practical information regarding the power of flow cytometry and the application of this exciting technology to their own research activities.

3. Innovation. A major goal of the Flow Cytometry Core is to address users’ needs by ensuring that Core Users can take advantage of current technological advances and incorporate state-of-the-art flow cytometric assays into their research programs. We encourage users to work in conjunction with core staff to use, tailor, and develop specific flow-based assays to enhance their research activities.

4. Current Resources Available to Core Users Include:

FACSAria. The BD FACSAria Cell sorter is used for analytical and preparative flow cytometry. The FACSAria design allows for acquisition rates of up to 70,000 cells per second and sorting rates up to 30,000 cells per second while maintaining high purity and cell recovery yields.

BD LSRII. The BD LSRII Flow Cytometer, used for analytical flow cytometry, is installed with 4 solid state lasers (laser outputs at 488nm, 633nm, 407nm, and 355nm) and a fixed alignment fiber optic optical system.

BioRad BioPlex Suspension Array System. The BioPlex system is a flexible, fluorescence-based easy-to-use multiplex analysis system that permits the simultaneous analysis of up to 100 different biomolecules (proteins, peptides, or nucleic acids) in a single microplate well.

Fluorescence microscope (Olympus BX60). The Olympus BX60 is an optical microscope for reflection and transmission. In both modes polarized light can be employed for sample analysis.

The Core also provides the GUAVA EasyCyte flow cytometer, the BioTek Synergy HT fluorescence plate reader and the BioRad BioPlex workstation as well as the Olympus BX60 fluorescence microscope for users.

5. The Flow Core will also arrange access to services from other CFAR Cores. The FACSAria cell sorter is located in a dedicated suite within the CFAR Virology Core. This allows Flow Core users ready access to additional resources provided by the Virology Core including biosafety hoods, centrifuges, incubators, microscopes, refrigerators, and freezers for the preparation of infectious samples and their post-sort processing.