Flow Cytometry Core

The Flow Cytometry Core (FCC) supplies flow cytometry instrumentation, experimental protocols, technical support, maintenance, and administration for three instruments that are very intensively used in a variety of research endeavors. Much of the immunology, cell biology, and infectious disease work carried out at the CNPRC employs FCC services.

The FCC receives frequent requests for consultation on experiments that push the boundaries of current knowledge or are simply outside the comfort range of most investigators. Often such requests are focused on identification of certain cellular phenotypes in macaques. In these cases the FCC can often provide both guidance and preliminary data; alternatively, we can suggest a plan for developing appropriate panels and analytic approaches.

The FCC trains all core users to ensure safe operation of the instruments and successful collection of data. Crucially, the FCC also provides in-person, on-site support during extended business hours. On-site support is provided so that user difficulties can be addressed quickly and the machines can remain continuously operational.

Certain flow cytometry panels are required by Primate Medicine to provide the best possible animal care and are run on FCC instruments, enhancing the CNPRC resource.

  • flowClean is an algorithm to track subset frequency changes within a sample during acquisition, and flag time periods with fluorescence perturbations leading to the emergence of false populations. Aberrant time periods are reported as a new parameter and added to a revised data file, allowing users to easily review and exclude those events from further analysis.

User training at the Flow Cytometry Core involves reading flow core SOPs (startup, proper use, and shutdown); attending one or two initial teaching sessions with Tracy Rourke; and several sessions of supervised cytometer use, which can be extended as needed until the new user is comfortable.

Due to Mr. Rourke’s constant, on-site availability, most users can be trained within 72 hours of his or her first request.  One hour of initial training with only minimal data collection is provided, followed by one to several hours of use in the presence of Mr. Rourke, depending on the user’s previous experience and aptitude.  Training can be also be provided to established researchers seeking to utilize flow cytometry as a new tool, as well as to pilot project recipients and visiting scientists using nonhuman primates for a wide range of research applications.

Training and consultation in data analysis are provided by Dr. Hartigan-O’Connor.

Data collected by users are transferred from the cytometer by the user.  Data files remaining on the cytometer are backed up by the Flow Cytometry Core monthly and the files then deleted.

Data collected and/or analyzed by the Flow Cytometry Core are made available via LabKey.  You will receive login instructions from Dr. Hartigan-O’Connor.

Core Acknowledgment
Please properly acknowledge the CNPRC Flow Cytometry Core for contributions to your grants and publications.  Acknowledgment provides a visible measure of the impact of the core, and supports our own efforts to obtain financial and other support.
When to Acknowledge
Include an acknowledgment any time the Flow Cytometry Core provides a service that supports your research.  Whenever a staff member has made a significant intellectual contribution beyond routine sample analysis, please consider authorship.
Where to Acknowledge
  • Papers
  • Posters
  • Presentations
  • Scholarly reports
  • Publications
  • Grants
Format: “Research reported in this [publication/press release] was supported by the Flow Cytometry Core of the California National Primate Research Center under NIH award number P51OD011107.”
Report Your Acknowledgement
If you’ve used data produced by the Flow Cytometry Core in publication(s) or grant proposal(s), please e-mail Dr. Hartigan-O’Connor (dhartigan@ucdavis.edu) to notify him.