Flow Cytometry Core Policies & Facility Access
All users who are interested in accessing the Flow Cytometry Core Facility must undergo the appropriate training. In advance of scheduling any training, all documentation below must be completed and sent to Patrick Autissier autissie@wi.mit.edu
Internal
Project Registration (not needed if you have already completed your project registration with EHS)
External
Once the appropriate paperwork is completed, training sessions can be scheduled. Training is currently carried out for the following instruments:
- BD Canto (independent analysis)
- BD Symphony A1 (independent analysis)
- BD Fortessa (independent analysis)
- SONY SH800 (independent cell sorting)
General
Any researcher looking to utilize the services of the flow cytometry core facility at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research must have completed safety orientation and BBP training with EHS. Additionally, a biological project registration must have been completed and approved by EHS. All appropriate paperwork as outlined here must be submitted to the core facility staff for approval for access to the facility.
Analyzers
Usage: All researchers must be trained by core facility staff in order to be granted access for independent booking and operation for all analyzers in the flow cytometry core facility. Training is carried out by facility staff Monday-Friday between 9AM-4:30PM. Proficiency on operation of the instrument must be shown before independent access is granted. Researchers who have had prior training and used instruments at outside institutions still need to undergo training for access.
Billing: Researchers will be charged for all time used on core facility analyzers exceeding 5 minutes. Time billed will be according to the usage log on the analyzers.
Note: If excessive time is reserved on the calendar booking system or researchers fail to show for their appointments, the core facility staff reserves the right to charge for unused time at their discretion.
Sorters
SH800 Usage: All researchers must be trained by core facility staff in order to be granted access for independent booking and operation for the SH800. Training is carried out by facility staff Monday-Friday between 5PM-8:30PM. Proficiency on operation of the instrument must be shown before independent access is granted. Researchers who have had prior training and used instruments at outside institutions still need to undergo training for access.
SH800 Billing: Researchers will be charged for all time used on SH800. Time billed will be according to the usage log posted on the instrument.
Note: If excessive time is reserved on the calendar booking system or researchers fail to show for their appointments, the core facility staff reserves the right to charge for unused time at their discretion.
Aria Usage: All researchers must be approved for facility access as outlined above in order to book time for the assisted sorting services on the Arias. Minimum appointment time for the Aria is one hour. Time must be reserved on the calendar booking system. Appointment requests made with less than 24 hours notice must be emailed to core facility staff and are not guaranteed.
Note: The facility has the capability to support full day multi instruments sorts for applications requiring large starting cell numbers. For full day or multi instrument bookings, one month’s notice is requested to allow other researchers time to plan accordingly.
Billing: Researchers will be charged for the full time of the appointment on the Aria cell sorters. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged in full unless the time is taken by another researcher.
Data
All data must be saved and transferred to a secure location by individual researchers at the completion of their appointment. Data is removed regularly and without notice from all instrument workstations.