Scheduling / Fees / General Procedures
Scheduling for All Flow Cytometers
Scheduling time for sample acquisition or data analysis is done by calling the Core facility at Ext. 6908. Researchers are scheduled on a first come first served basis. A Scheduling Calendar has been made available for all users to view online to plan experiments. Please "bookmark" the link for future use. It is "view only" and will change often so be sure to refresh the site as you make your plans. Scheduling is best done a few days in advance to ensure that you have sufficient time and that you will be able run your samples within a reasonable time after they have been prepared. If you are doing a time course study, it is best to check with the facility well in advance to ensure that someone will be there on the days you need to have access to the cytometers. Occasionally a request for live cell analysis will take priority over a previously scheduled time slot using fixed cells.
Requests for cell sorting must be made at least a week in advance to ensure assistance will be available and that all biosafety concerns can be addressed.
Rates for Flow Cytometer Use (Updated March 1, 2010)
Standard Sample Acquisition (Researcher provides operator) $50/hour
Standard Data Analysis (Researcher provides operator) $20/hour
Assisted Acquisition or Data Analysis (Core provides operator) $50/hour (additional)
Standard Sorting on FACSAria (Researcher provides assistant) $85/hour
Sorting Setup Charge $100/sort
Special Sorter Setup Charge $150/sort
Minimum Charge for Sorting Use $185
NOTE: "No Shows" and cancellations less than 8 hours in advance may be charged for scheduled time.
General Procedures for the Core
The Flow Cytometry Core Facility serves both the Hospital and the Researchers of the College of Medicine. There are three instruments (FACSCanto and 2 FACSCaliburs) dedicated to clinical use. Use of these machines by researchers are prohibited unless specifically directed to do so by the Core personnel. All other instruments, including the Cell Sorter, are for research use and must be scheduled in advance for use (see above).
Billing for usage is done monthly according to Department and Principal Investigator. We do not break down the billing by technician or project, but if the researcher needs this information, they can retrieve it upon request to the core facility. All users must fill out the Proteus web page information each time they use equipment.
The facility is designed to have the users operate the instruments when running samples and analyzing data. The Core personnel will train these users to become proficient over time in setting up their experiments, running samples and producing and archiving data resulting from the experiments.
There is a terabyte server available to all the researchers to use for transferring data to your laboratory for archival or further analysis. Users may also transfer data to other portable storage media if desired. In any case, the user is ultimately responsible for archiving any and all data generated.
Safety for all users and Core personnel is a priority concern. Since the Core facility is a shared laboratory and is designated as a BSL II facility, there are certain guidelines that all users are responsible to be aware of and follow. This is a special concern for cell sorting and biosafety concerns and guidelines will be strictly adhered to. This policy is summarized in the Safety Guidelines. They include guidelines for the safe use of lasers as well.