NIST Flow Cytometry Lab

Summary

Our experienced staff leverage the latest cytometry technologies to develop innovative flow cytometry measurement solutions, standards, and reference materials to enable quantitative measurements of biological substances such as cells, extracellular vesicles/exosomes, proteins, and nucleic acids. We work with the manufacturers of calibration particles and instruments to enable the cytometer standardization and to achieve the detection limit smaller than 80 nm in diameter. The NIST Flow Cytometry Lab is a state-of-the-art facility equipped with three different cytometer platforms.

Description

Current Capabilities

• ERF value assignment measurement service for traceable ERF value assignment to microparticles
• Characterization of biological reference materials by quantitative polychromatic flow cytometry including cell lines, engineered cell lines, primary cells, lyophilized cells, exosomes, microbes, DNA and mRNA
• Aseptic sorting of cell lines and primary cells
• Quantitative measurements of cell surface and intracellular biomarkers by estimating antibody bound per cell
• Accurate enumeration of cells with specific phenotypic characteristics and function, e.g. CD34+ stem cells, cytokine producing T cells, and microbes
• Harmonization of flow cytometry data across three different platforms through panel design, antibody titration, instrument calibration, reference cell controls, high dimensional data analysis etc.   

Flow Cytometry Instruments

	Cytoflex flow cytometers from Beckman Coulter: Includes up to 6 solid diode lasers, 375 nm, 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, 633 nm and 808 nm and can detect 23 parameters simultaneously on a single sample, 21 color fluorescence data plus forward and side scatter.  Includes Avalanche Photo Diode detector arrays for fluorescence and side scatter light detections and permits the detection of <80nm nano-sized nanoparticles with side-scatter trigger from 405 nm laser.
	Attune NxT from Thermo Fisher: Includes 4 solid diode lasers, 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm and 633 nm and can detect 16 parameters simultaneously on a single sample, 14 color fluorescence data plus forward and side scatter.  Includes photomultiplier tubes (PMT) for fluorescence and side scatter light detections.
	FACSAria II Sorter from BD Biosciences: Includes 3 lasers, 405 nm, 488 nm and 633 nm and can detect 14 parameters simultaneously on a single sample, 12 color fluorescence data plus forward and side scatter.  Includes photomultiplier tubes (PMT) for fluorescence and side scatter light detections. Performs parallel sorting of 4 different live cell populations identified by using 14 parameters.