Capabilities & Equipment
The Flow & Mass Cytometry Core provides advanced platforms for cellular analysis, sorting, and high-dimensional profiling. Our capabilities are organized by function to help you identify the most appropriate approach for your experimental goals. Core staff work closely with investigators to design, optimize, and execute experiments, ensuring high-quality and reproducible results.
How to Choose the Right Platform?
Our capabilities are organized by function to help you identify the most appropriate approach for your experimental goals. Use the comparison below to quickly determine which platform best fits your experiment.
| Capability | Conventional Flow Cytometry | Spectral Flow Cytometry | Mass Cytometry (CyTOF) | Imaging Cytometry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detection Method | Fluorophore-based | Full-spectrum fluorescence with unmixing | Metal-tagged antibodies (mass spectrometry) | Fluorescence-based imaging |
| Parameters per cell | ~8–15 | ~20–40+ | 40+ | 5+ (with cell morphology information) |
| Signal Overlap | Moderate (compensation required) | Reduced (spectral unmixing) | Minimal | Moderate |
| Spatial Information | No | No | Suspension (Helios)./ Spatial (Hyperion) | Yes |
| Cell Recovery | Yes | Yes | No (cells are vaporized) | No |
| Best For | Routine assays | High-parameter panels | Deep profiling | Cell biology |
| Complexity | Low–Moderate | Moderate–High | High | Moderate |
| Data Type | Fluorescence intensity | Spectral fluorescence | Ion counts | Images + quantitative data |
Services and Instruments
To explore capabilities by experimental need, click to expand the tabs below.
Our analyzers support high-parameter flow cytometry for detailed phenotypic and functional characterization of cells.
These platforms are ideal for:
- Immunophenotyping and population profiling
- Multicolor panel-based experiments
- Intracellular and functional assays
Platforms Available
Click links below to see details and technical specifications for each.
Not sure which analyzer to use?
- FACSCalibur = basic assays
- FACSCanto II = routine multicolor panels
- LSR II = advanced multicolor experiments
- Aurora = high-parameter (>20 color) studies
Users can operate instruments independently following training, or work with Core staff for experimental setup and optimization.
Conventional multiparameter flow cytometry
Conventional flow cytometry platforms for multicolor analysis using fixed optical filters and fluorophore-specific detection. These instruments are well-suited for established assays, routine immunophenotyping, and experiments using standard fluorophore panels.
Have questions or need help choosing the right platform?
chaitanya.dende@utsouthwestern.edu Chaitanya Dende for expert support.
High-performance cell sorting platforms for the isolation of defined cell populations with high purity and viability for downstream applications. These systems enable precise separation of rare, heterogeneous, or sensitive cell populations using multi-parameter gating strategies and optimized workflows.
Capabilities include:
- High-purity and high-yield sorting
- Isolation of rare or fragile populations
- Complex multi-parameter gating
- Biosafety-compliant sorting workflows
All sorting experiments are performed in collaboration with Core staff to ensure optimal experimental design, sample preparation, and instrument performance.
Platforms Available
Click links below to see details and technical specifications for each.
- BD FACSAria II (Cell Sorter)
- BD FACSAria II
- BD FACSAria II (Zelda)
- Cytek Aurora CS (Spectral Cell Sorter)
- Cytek Aurora CS (NA2)
- Cytek Aurora CS (NS6)
Need help getting started?
chaitanya.dende@utsouthwestern.edu Chaitanya Dende or Angela.mobley@utsouthwestern.edu Angela Mobley for expert guidance.
Mass cytometry (CyTOF) is an advanced single-cell analysis technology that combines flow cytometry with mass spectrometry to measure 40-plus markers simultaneously at the single-cell level.
Unlike conventional flow cytometry, which uses fluorophores, mass cytometry uses metal-tagged antibodies. This approach eliminates spectral overlap and enables deeper, high-dimensional profiling of complex biological systems.
Why use CyTOF?
- High-dimensional immune profiling
- Discovery-driven and systems-level studies
- Analysis of rare or heterogeneous cell populations
- Integration of multiple functional and phenotypic markers in a single experiment
The technology enables researchers to generate information-rich datasets that reveal cellular heterogeneity, functional states, and biological relationships not accessible with conventional methods.
How it Works
Cells are labeled with antibodies conjugated to heavy metal isotopes and introduced into the instrument as a single-cell suspension. Each cell is atomized and ionized, and the metal tags are detected based on their mass, allowing precise quantification of multiple markers per cell.
This process enables high-resolution single-cell measurements with minimal signal interference, supporting robust and reproducible data generation.
Platforms Available
Detailed workflow schematics for both the Helios and Hyperion platforms are provided on the platform pages to guide users through the end-to-end experimental process.
Need help getting started or planning your experiment?
Angela.mobley@utsouthwestern.edu Angela Mobley for expert guidance.
Imaging flow cytometry combines quantitative flow cytometry with high-resolution imaging to provide both phenotypic and spatial information at the single-cell level.
Unlike conventional flow cytometry, this technology captures images of each cell as it flows through the instrument, enabling visualization of cellular morphology, localization of markers, and subcellular events alongside quantitative measurements.
This approach is particularly valuable when visual confirmation is required in addition to standard flow cytometry data.
Applications
- Morphological and localization studies
- Cell-to-cell interaction analysis
- Verification of intracellular signaling events
- Subcellular protein localization
- Nuclear translocation and co-localization studies
Platforms Available
Need help getting started or planning your experiment?
Angela.mobley@utsouthwestern.edu Angela Mobley for expert guidance.
The Flow Cytometry Core provides end-to-end cellular assay services for clinicians and investigators who have access to patient samples but may not have dedicated laboratory infrastructure.
We partner with you to transform your samples into high-quality, analysis-ready data—without the need for in-house tissue culture or technical expertise.
What We Offer
- PBMC isolation from whole blood
- Cell stimulation and functional assays
- Surface and intracellular staining workflows
- Custom assay development tailored to your study needs
Designed for Clinical and Translational Research
Whether you are working with limited patient samples or initiating a new study, our team ensures:
- Reliable sample processing
- Standardized, reproducible workflows
- High-quality data generation
Why use this service?
- No need for tissue culture facilities
- Ideal for clinicians and translational researchers
- Reduces variability and technical burden
- Enables rapid and scalable study execution
Need help getting started or planning your experiment?
chaitanya.dende@utsouthwestern.edu Chaitanya Dende for expert guidance.