The Flow Cytometry Unit facility provides a centralized resource for technical expertise and major equipment. The Unit supports and enhances experimental design and execution of basic and applied research that require flow cytometric cell analysis or cell sorting.

To achieve this objective, the Flow Cytometry Unit offers the following:

• Expert consultation is provided through the core director, laboratory supervisor, and our senior technical specialists;
• Cytometry instruments are selected for complementary functions;
• Equipment use is accessible through dedicated technician-operators;
• All services are provided on a recharge basis;
• Assistance with data analysis can be customized to the needs of individual investigators and research projects.

The unit facility contains five major pieces of equipment that perform multiple functions. Current services include: multiparameter analysis (1-6 antibody combinations) on cell suspensions and cells fixed to slides, and small to large volume cell sorting. Types of cell analyses include: cell maturation phenotypes; cell proliferation and activation (cell cycle/DNA content, CFSE dye; calcium flux, CD69, Annexin-V); intra-cellular proteins (cytokines, cell cycle regulators, viral products); quantification of molecular promoters and reporter genes (GFP, beta-gal; FRET).

Live and fixed cell sorting is performed to recover cell subsets, identified with any combination of the above mentioned analysis tools. A specially equipped cell sorter is available for work with live, biohazardous cell samples (experimental protocol requires approval of the Flow Cytometry Unit Lead). We can help with the design of custom flow cytometry protocols. Contact the facility to schedule services.

Submit a Service Request

See Flow Cytometry Unit Schedule

Flow Cytometry Unit Personnel

Nadejda Beliakova-Bethell, PhD
Flow Cytometry Unit Lead

Jennifer Dan, MD, PhD
MCI Core Leadership Trainee

Charles Sanders
Research Associate

Flow Cytometry Unit Services & Instrumentation

• Analysis - BD CANTO (RUO GREEN)
  • Lasers: Blue-488nm, Red-640nm, Violet-405nm; up to 11 colors

• Analysis - BD CANTO (RUO ORANGE)
  • Lasers: Blue-488 nm, Red-640nm, Violet-405nm; up to 11 colors

• Sort - ARIA II (Non-Biohazard sort or Biohazard sort with bioBUBBLE)
  • Lasers: Blue-488nm, YG-561nm, Red-640nm, Violet-405nm; up to 11 colors
  • Bulk Sorting (2 or 4-way sorting)
  • Clone sorting (1 or more cells/well)
  • Biohazardous sorting
• Sort - Sony MA900 (Non-Biohazard or Biohazard sort)
  • Lasers: Violet 405nm, Blue 488nm, Yellow/Green 561nm, and Red 638nm, up to 12 colors
  • Bulk sorting (2 to 4 populations)
  • Single-cell deposition
  • Biohazardous sorting

• Sort - WOLF (NanoCellect, Inc.)
  • Gentle sort <2psi
  • Endorsed by 10X Genomics, Inc. for downstream single-cell applications
  • Laser: 488nm; filter configuration: 525+/-25nm (FITC,GFP), 585+/-20nm (PE), 665nm Long Pass (PerCP-Cy5.5)
  • Bulk cell sorting and single-cell deposition (96- and 384-well plates)
• Training

Pricing

Rates are hourly

If you are a member of SD CFAR, your project is funded by SD CFAR, or if your research project is a collaborative effort with an SD CFAR investigator, please notify lab personnel to ensure that your work is billed at the appropriate rate

Contact Information

Lab telephone: (858) 552-8585 ext. 5933
Core Director telephone: 858-552-8585 ext. 7189
FAX: (858) 552-7436
Mail code: V-151
Email: vaflowcore@vapop.ucsd.edu 

Address: 
Flow Cytometry Research Core Facility
VA San Diego Healthcare System
Rm. 6189B / MC-151
3350 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92161

Click here to map directions to VA Flow Lab

Our facility is located in room 6189B on the 6th floor, East wing of the VA San Diego Health Care System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, connected to the UCSD School of Medicine campus via a pedestrian bridge.