How to become a power user

We provide training in cell sorting to researchers falling into one of the following categories:

• Projects involving a lot of cell sorts (1-2 x per week) for at least a couple of months.
• Users who often need to sort outside of service hours (e.g. unexpected patient samples, which have to be processed immediately).
• Technicians from research groups who are willing to handle all sorts of the whole research group.

All requests for cell sorter training have to be approved by the facility head.

Prerequisite for sorter training

We expect that you are able to operate an analyzer (BD LSRFortessa or BD LSRFortessa X-20) independently. We observed that users without practical experience in FACS Diva software have massive difficulties during the first training sessions. If you were trained on a different instrument, we highly recommend using one of our analyzers to make yourself familiar with this software before the start of the sorter training.

Training

To operate our equipments you must attend the 2,5 hour session on the Principles of Flow Cytometry. If you haven’t already, please book your Session.

Training to self-operate the sorters requires attending a second theoretical session on the Principles of Cell Sorting.

This 2 hour session is open to anyone who wishes to understand how to sort, optimize their sorting experiments, or simply to improve their cell sorting skills. It covers the fundamental principles of FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting), and all the concepts for better planning, executing, and analyzing the sorting experiments. Also, operating shared instruments requires discipline and rigorous training to assure the maintenance and well-functioning of our equipments.

This theoretical session is followed by a 2 hour session oh hands-on training with one of our staff member. You will learn how to setup the instrument for your own experiments, as well as troubleshooting problems when and if they occur.

After the training, you will be kept as an “in training” user on the Agendo booking system for the next 5 sessions, where UCF staff will supervise you during the sort. Once you become an independent user on the Cell Sorting, you are free to book. Either way the core facility is ready to assist you in any setting up issue or troubleshooting while running the sorter.

Be sure to read the following documents prior to your practical training:

Check our Cell Sorters for Power Users