Home ▻ Colleges & Schools▻College of Science and Engineering▻Technology Services Directorate Galway▻Flow Cytometry

Flow Cytometry

Overview

Flow cytometry is a powerful, flexible and widely used research technology that allows for multi-parameter phenotypic analysis of complex mixes of cells or particles in suspension. Its applications range across the fields of biological, engineering, environmental and biomedical sciences. Commonly used applications include;

  • DNA cell cycle analysis
  • Apoptosis/necrosis
  • Ploidy determination
  • Cell surface immunophenotyping
  • Intracellular protein expression and calcium flux assays
  • Fluorescence activated cell sorting, FACS - allows the physical separation and purification of cell populations for further procedures such as cell culture, RNA and protein expression.

Services offered include training for autonomous usage, assisted cell sorting, data analysis suite and technical support and assistance.

Flow Cytometry Core Facility Equipment

BD Accuri C6 Sampler Plus

Type: Analytical flow cytometer

  • Two laser configuration: 488nm blue laser and 640nm red laser
  • 4 fluorescent detection channels
  • Absolute cell count capability
  • Small particle detection, suitable for analysing bacterial samples.
  • High throughput samples analysis from 24 tube rack and 96 well plates and suitable for multiplex assays.
  • Intuitive, easy to use software suitable for users new to flow cytometry.

Cytek Biosciences Northern Lights 3000

Type: Spectral flow cytometer.

  • Three laser configuration: 405nm violet, 488nm blue, and 640nm red lasers.
  • 38 fluorescent detection channels.
  • Violet laser SSC for small particle detection.
  • Absolute cell count capability.
  • Automated 96 well plate loader suitable for high throughput sample analysis and multiplex assays.
  • Autofluorescence extraction capability useful for analysing highly auto-fluorescence cell types including MSCs

Cytek Biosciences Northern Lights 2000

Type: Spectral flow cytometer

  • Two laser configuration: 405nm violet and 488nm blue lasers.
  • 30 fluorescent detection channels.
  • Violet laser SSC for small particle detection.
  • Absolute cell count capability.
  • Auto fluorescence extraction capability

BD FACS Canto II

Type: Analytical flow cytometer

  • Three laser configuration: 405nm violet, 488nm blue laser and 640nm red lasers
  • 8 fluorescent detection channels
  • Highly flexible data acquisition

ThermoFisher Bigfoot

Type: Fluorescence activated cell sorter.

  • Fast High throughput spectral cell sorting
  • 6 way sorts - capable of sort speeds of up to 70,000 events per second
  • Integrated biocontainment and aerosol management
  • Real-time spectral unmixing

Key Publications from this Core Facility

Fumadó Navarro, J. et al. (2025) ‘Cerebral organoids with integrated endothelial networks emulate the Neurovascular Unit and mitigate core necrosis’, Advanced Science, 12(43). doi:10.1002/advs.202507256.

O’Neill, A. et al. (2025) ‘Stromal cells modulate innate immune cell phenotype and function in colorectal cancer via the sialic acid/siglec axis’, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, 13(10). doi:10.1136/jitc-2025-012491.

Ou, Q. et al. (2025) ‘Initial or continuous coculture with umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells facilitates in vitro expansion of human regulatory T-cell subpopulations’, Stem Cells Translational Medicine, 14(6). doi:10.1093/stcltm/szaf012.

Salamanca-Díaz, D.A., Horkan, H.R., García-Castro, H., Emili, E., Salinas-Saavedra, M., Pérez-Posada, A., et al. (2025) ‘The Hydractinia Cell Atlas reveals cellular and molecular principles of cnidarian coloniality’, Nature Communications, 16(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-025-57168-z.

For more information, please contact flowcytometry@universityofgalway.ie.