The Flow and Image Cytometry Laboratory provides the University of Oklahoma research community with state-of-the-art cell analysis and sorting instrumentation, and the technical expertise to best utilize this technology. The laboratory is equipped with a computer workstation and a variety of computer software packages to collect and analyze data. The facility maintains a sterile hood, CO2 incubator, centrifuge, and fluorescent microscope which can be used for cell preparation and tissue culture work.

The Nikon TE2000-E is an inverted epi-fluorescent microscoped with nanoprecision Z-axis control. With the high precision motorized focus and vibration free optical path changeover mechanism that facilitates image capture in 3D.

Confocal microscopy allows the user to obtain depth-selective information on the three dimensional structure of a microscopic object. The confocal principle is especially valuable in fluorescence microscopy, since it almost completely eliminates stray light not coming from the focal plane. Thus the system is able to produce fluorescence images with optimum clarity and resolution of fine details.

The highly efficient SP prism spectrophotometer for detection of fluorescence emission coupled with the AOBS (acoustical optical beam splitter) allows users to collect more signal than using standard optical filters. With the use of the multi-photon laser the microscope system becomes inherently confocal also allowing deeper penetration into tissue with less photo-bleaching.

The FACSCalibur is a four color automated system with dual laser excitation (488 and 633nm) that can quickly perform routine tasks including immunophenotyping, reticulocyte enumeration, DNA analysis, absolute counting, and kinetics assays. Our system also has the FACS Loader option, featuring removable 40-tube carousels, and on-board mixing which allows walkaway automation.

The MoStar is a unique hybrid of the MoFlo and FACStar Plus which offers advantages of both flow cytometry systems. The system has three laser excitation (including UV) and up to six fluorescent parameters may be collected for each cell analyzed. 4Way Cell sorting is now available plus the CyCLONE, and automated high-speed cloning device which sorts into 96-well trays, 384-wall trays, or any user specified pattern.

The Influx cell sorter has the ability to sort cell at 50,000 events per second. The system has 4 laser excitation (UV, 405, 488 and 633nm) and up to 10 fluorescent parameters may be collected for each cell analyzed. A spectrometer detector can also be used to collect the signal at wavelength of 300-900nm. The sensitivity is better that 100 MESF with a noise level and detection limit of 3 photons. The flow cytometer can be adapted to provide kinetic measurements of various parameters while cells are maintained at a specific desired temperature.