Stellenbosch University Flow Cytometry Unit
(SUFCU)
(SUFCU)
The Flow Cytometry Unit of the University of Stellenbosch is a shared resource that provides high quality, cost effective, flow cytometry facilities and infrastructure for Research and Diagnostic Services to Investigators in the Faculty of Health Sciences, other Academic Institutes and Private Practices/Companies in Africa.
The Unit boasts state-of-the-art equipment with capabilities serving all types of flow cytometric demands. The Unit is currently equipped with four Becton Dickinson bench-top flow cytometers and a Sample Prep Assistant II. A FACSCanto II is being placed in the Unit in January 2009:
- FACSCalibur a dual-laser, four-color instrument, with 40-tubeauto-loaderto aid in high-throughput analysis of specimens
- FACSCalibur a dual-laser, four-color instrument, capable of both cell analysis and sorting
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FACSCount for automatic counting of CD4, CD8, and CD3 T lymphocytes. The BD FACSCount system uses whole blood, eliminating lyse and wash steps. A unique software algorithm automatically identifies the lymphocyte populations of interest
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FACSArray for fast and sensitive high-content analysis of proteins in cell biology, immunology, and proteomics
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FACS Sample Prep Assistant II IVD provides walkaway sample processing for immunophenotyping
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FACSCanto II with 3 lasers (405, 488, and 633 nm) allowing 8 colour analyses, digital electronics that capture up to 10,000 events per second, and a High Throughput System (HTS) loader for sample introduction from microtiter plates (96 and 384 wells)
Current areas of active research include:
- Cell functional studies
- CD4 monitoring
- Cytokines studies
- Apoptosis
- Cell cycle and proliferation
- DNA ploidy analysis
- Novel drug toxicity analysis
- Sorting
- The Unit offers comprehensive training and technical support in flow cytometry to Researchers and Students. Assistance is given in:
- Experimental design
- Optimal sample preparation
- Quality controls
- Data acquisition
- Statistical analysis
- Interpretation of results
Software is available for listmode analysis,
DNA cell cycle analysis and graphic display of data (FCS format)
generated by most commerical flow cytometers.
