Flow Cytometry Facility and Instrument Descriptions for Grant Applications

The Flow Cytometry and High-Speed Cell Sorting Shared Resource Laboratory in the Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University (RRID: SCR_025507), provides instrumentation and expertise for the analysis and isolation of cells and other particles across diverse research disciplines. The laboratory operates as a BSL-2 facility under an institutional Biological Use Authorization.

Instrumentation: Agilent NovoCyte Opteon spectral analyzer (4 lasers, 54 total detection channels); Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX LX* conventional analyzer (6 lasers, 21 fluorescence detection channels); and Beckman Coulter CytoFLEX SRT cell sorter (4 lasers, 15 fluorescence detection channels). The SRT supports simultaneous four-way tube sorting. Alternatively, cells can be deposited onto glass slides or into individual wells of 96- or 384-well plates. Plate sorting options include single-cell deposition and index sorting. The sorter is housed within a Class II biosafety cabinet and supports BSL-2 sorting for samples approved under the laboratory’s Biological Use Authorization.

User Support: The laboratory provides experimental design and panel development consultation, instrument quality control, user training, assisted acquisition and sorting, and data analysis support. Operations are managed by Rie Watanabe, BVSc, Ph.D., SCYM(ASCP)^CM. Trained users may access analyzers independently.

*Current availability (September 2026): The CytoFLEX LX red laser is inoperative, leaving five operational lasers and 18 available fluorescence detection channels. Use for a proposed project requires confirmation of panel compatibility and instrument availability with the laboratory.