UWM Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting Core Facility
Co-directors
Michael D. Laiosa, Assistant Professor
School of Public Health
Doug Steeber, Associate Professor
Biological Sciences
Mission
The UW-Milwaukee (UWM) FACS Core is established to support research and teaching programs of any UWM scientist or trainee desiring to analyze and/or sort pure populations of viable cells obtained from a heterogeneous starting population.
Location
Lapham Hall 230
Capabilities
The FACS Aria III is equipped with four lasers with capacity to detect up to 11 fluorescent signals on a single cell. The FACS Aria III is also equipped with the capacity to sort up to four populations of viable cells at a rate of approximately 5000 cells per second (rates depend on starting sample concentration, cell size, etc.). Particles as small as 0.2μM can be detected.
Configuration
Lasers:
Blue 488 nM: For detection of FITC, PerCP
Red 633 nM: For detection of APC, APC-Cy7
Yellow Green 561 nM: For detection of PE, PE-TR/PI, PE-Cy5, PE-Cy7
Violet 405 nM: For detection of Alexafluor 430, Alexafluor 405/DAPI
Operation
Appointments for the core facility must be made at least 24 hours in advance for analytical runs, and 48 hours in advance for cell sorting. Laboratories are encouraged to acquire the necessary training to preform their own analytical runs. Training will consist of three one-on-one training sessions with either Michael Laiosa, Doug Steeber, or their designated staff. Cell sorting must be arranged with and performed by either Michael Laiosa, Doug Steeber, or their designated staff.
Costs
Support for the instrument service contract, quality control maintenance, and fluidics will be generated on an hourly fee-for-service base. Users must establish an account to pay for service prior to independent operation of the instrument. Fees will be rounded to the nearest quarter hour. Analytical runs and Cell sorting will be charged at the rate of $30.00 per hour1,2.
Reservations
Reservations will be on a first come-first serve basis made using the UWM Zimbra online calendar system. Place calendar reservations with resource-sph-facs-aria@uwm.edu. FACS usage will be limited to normal business hours (8 am - 5 pm), Monday - Friday. After hour usage will only be made on an individual basis and only with written approval from Michael Laiosa.
1Cell sorting will be charged a minimum of 90 minutes, regardless of the time used. This will account for additional instrument set-up requirements for cell sorting.
2Assay Development: Users who are considering developing new flow cytometry based assays for their laboratory may request up to three two hour sessions free of charge. Additional sessions may be requested on a case by case basis.