Frequently Used Consumables in Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting Experiments
| Items | Purpose | Example |
| Cell strainer | To remove larger debris from the sample. This is an essential and mandatory step to protect the instruments from clogging. | 40 um Flowmi (VWR: 10032-802) 35 um cell strainer with 5ml FACS tube (FALCON 352235, VWR: CA210080-948) 35 um cell strainer cap only (This can fit 12x75mm 5ml tube) |
| FACS buffer | To protect cells from stress. To reduce non-specific binding of antibodies | eBioScience FC staining buffer Biolegend Cell Staining buffer In-house (PBS/HBBS + BSA and/or FBS) |
| Tubes | To load samples to the cytometer or cell sorter Sterile PP tube with cap is recommended for receiving sorted cells. | 12×75 mm tube (5 mL tube, FACS tube) Plain, no cap, non-sterile (352002, VWR: 60819-794) Plain, sterile with cap (352063, VWR: 60819-728) |
Discussion: at which step do we filter cells?
Step 2: Cell Strainer
| Pore Size | Good For |
|---|---|
| 100 um | Initial filtration to remove larger debris |
| 70 um | Initial filtration to remove larger debris |
| 40 um | Final filtration or filtration for single cell suspension |
Good for small volume
VMR 10032-802
Note:
96-well plate can be used for delivering samples to CytoFLEX LX cell analyzer. We recommend U or V bottom shaped plates. The bottom size of the plate has to be (8.5 cm x 12.7 cm) to fit the loader.
If you plan to perform sample prep (staining) in the plate, pay close attention to 1) plate material/coating, 2) bottom shape, 3) liquid volume. Those factors impact largely to your staining result and cell recovery rate.