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Flow Cytometry

URMC / Research / Flow Cytometry / Services / Registration & Training / Fortessa/Symphony Training
 

Fortessa/Symphony Training

Introduction to Flow Lecture

Before you can sign up for initial training, you will be required to attend the Introduction to Flow lecture. This is a 1.5 hour basic lecture to introduce you to the concepts of flow cytometry. The training is held via Zoom or in person (alternating) every other week.  The days/times of the lecture will be posted on the website as well as announced via email.  Please be sure to have reviewed the material in the BD Introduction to Flow pdf.

The following documents will either be needed during training or are a useful resource before you come for training. All documents are linked directly here and can be found in the FCC_Library here.

  1. URMC Introduction to Flow Lecture
  2. BD FACSDiva User Information
  3. BD HTS User Information
  4. BD Intro to Flow tutorial
  5. Flow Core's FACSDiva software guide
  6. Flow Core's Fortessa/Symphony Operation Guide

Available Times for Training Appointments

The general times available each week will be listed in the PPMS request form.  Please indicate your availbility from the listed optoins and the training team will do their best to match your request, and email you to confirm.

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First Training Visit

The first visit is typically done on a Symphony A1 located in the Flow Core. This visit consists of two parts: a review of the fluidics and instrument as a whole, and a brief bead-based experiment run by the instructor. The fluidics portion will take approximately 20 minutes with the remainder dedicated to the experiment.

  1. To sign up for visit 1, please fill out a training request form.
  2. The Flow Core's FACSDiva software guide is provided so that you may follow along as the experiment is run. Any details or questions you may have should be brought up, but if questions arise, they can be asked during the second training visit.
  3. The instrument introduction tutorial is provided so the user can be acquainted with the Fortessa/Symphony before arriving for the first visit. It will then be discussed during this visit and any questions should be asked at this time.
  4. A basic experiment will be run from start to finish including compensation using the Flow Core's FACSDiva software guide.
  5. There is no charge for this training visit.
  6. This visit can be done in a group of two people if requested.
  7. It is critical that Visit 1 starts on time. Anyone more than 10 minutes
    late will have to reschedule and will be charged for 1.5 hours of instrument time.

Second Training Visit

The second visit is run by the user under the guidance of the instructor. The same beads used during the first visit will be run again so that a recreation of previously seen information can be done while a hands-on introduction to the software happens.

  1. To sign up for visit 2, please fill out a training request form.
  2. Please be sure to bring the Flow Core's FACSDiva software guide with you for this visit.
  3. Running beads allows the user to begin to learn the software.
  4. There is no charge for this training visit.
  5. This visit is for one trainee at a time with no exceptions.
  6. It is critical that Visit 2 starts on time. Anyone more than 10 minutes
    late will have to reschedule and will be charged for 1.5 hours of instrument.

Calendar Access

After visit 2 the trainee will have calendar access and schedule/run experiments during normal business hours (8am-5pm). Flow core staff will sign-in the investigator to the instruments at this point.

After-Hours Access

The Flow Core is open during normal business hours (8am to 5pm) from Monday through Friday, though specific instrument availability may vary slightly.

To receive after-hours access, the investigator must fill out the afterhours access form. A separate training session (free, approximately ½ hour) will be scheduled to review the specifics of after-hours access and instrument troubleshooting. After this session, the investigator must pass a written afterhours access exam and practical demonstration. If they fail, they must wait two weeks to reschedule the test. An investigator can schedule this test any time after they have normal access to the instrument.

Helpful Training Links

BD Biosciences Support