BD FACSDiscover S8 Spectral Cell Sorter with CellView Imaging Technology

The BD FACSDiscover S8 is currently the only spectral cell sorter identified by the University that combines spectral flow cytometry and cell sorting with CellView imaging technology. This camera free technology utilises laser waveforms to digitally render a 2D image of individual cells equivalent to between 10-20x magnification. The cellview imaging technology offers additional sorting parameters, based on cell morphology, that complement the standard fluorescence detection offered by spectral cell sorters

The imaging capability is a specific technical requirement for the proposed research applications within the Institute for Genetics and Cancer. It will expand the possible applications of the cell sorter and also providing a previously unavailable quality control tool for verifying sorted cells. The image-based flow sorting capability of the BD FACSDiscover S8 is required to support the following research applications:

1. The ability to perform genetic screens which use subcellular protein localisation and/or cell morphology as a phenotypic read-out.

2. The ability to purify cells at different stages of mitosis

3. The ability to quantify and purify cells undergoing protein degradation in the nucleus versus cytoplasm.

The CellView™ functionality is therefore an essential technical requirement for the intended research applications.

Alternative spectral cell sorters considered by the University do not provide the same integrated image-based sorting capability. As a result, they would not provide the functionality required to undertake the above research applications in the proposed manner.

On this basis, the BD FACSDiscover S8 has been identified as the only instrument currently available to the University that meets the specific technical requirements of the proposed research.