With some initial tutoring, researchers can aquire their own data anytime, including nights and weekends. Please remember to make an appointment even for off-hour use of the FACScans. It is equipped with a 488nm argon laser and a 635nm didoe laser. As with the FACScans, researchers are trained to operate this flow cytometer on their own for aquisition of their data. The cells are passed through a column of steel wool attached to a magnet.
Positive cells adhere to the steel wool.
To elute the cells, just take the column off the magnet. Cells can also be labeled at the same time with streptavidin FITC and run on a flow cytometer to check purity. If purity is not high enough, cells can be resorted on the flow cytometer. We have achieved very high purities with this system without having to resort cells. MACS is a powerful enrichment tool when combined with the flow cytometers.