FACScan

The Becton Dickinson FACScan is available ONLY to pretrained personnel. If you have been trained you may schedule and use the facility. To assist those of you who are trained, but use it seldom, below are the basics of turning on and off the instrument, and hints for use. PLEASE do NOT attempt to use the Flow Cytometer based only on these instructions. You will need at least 1.5 hours of training. Please email Amber Neben to schedule a training session or with questions or problems with the FACScan, or in my absence, John Desimone is available to help in emergencies (no training will be available in my absense).

Turn on Sequence

As with any electonics, we want to avoid any surges of electricity while the computer is on so the sequence for turning on and off the system is quite important. ALSO the software won't recognize that the FACScan is on unless it is turned on first so Please follow these guidelines.

1. Turn on the SCAN with the flat toggle switch on the front left side of the face of the instrument. Allow 5-10 mintues for the laser to stablize.

2. The fluid levels in the reservoirs need to be checked prior to use...The one on the left - the sheath tank - should be filled to the line ONLY - not farther - with the Haemaline Saline in the box on the top of the counter (Supply is found under the sink and under the counter in the corner of the room). To remove the tank and fill it, make sure the toggle for pressurizing the tank is pressed down (the Vent Valve) - and the tank vented. Gently unscrew the top being careful not to tug too hard on the wiring (poor design) to avoid damage to the wiring or tubing. The waste tank should be empty except for a few cc's of bleach to inactivate any bacterial or viral elements or carcinogens. NOTE: It is important to make sure the sheath contains saline at all times - if it runs out, it could damage the flow cell. The level detection device is inoperable so you will need to keep an eye on it. The level detection device for the waste container will help - IF you remember to always empty the waste as soon as you refill the sheath!

3. Turn on the Computer with the flat switch in the top right corner of the keyboard.

4. Open the User Folder and your own personal folder or to Templates Folder and launch the software by clicking on the CellQuest Icon for the template of choice. This will start the software with the layout you prefer. You do not need to save it upon exit unless you have changed something about the layout that you want to use again for another experiment.

Turning off the system:

Turning off the system is basically the opposite of turning it on.

1. Make sure you are logged out properly when you finish. Log out as soon as you are done, since charges are based on the times recorded in the log. The Log is located in the top drawer just to the left of the computer, directly under the sipper of the FACScan.

2. Wash out the aspiration tube with 5% bleach for about 5 minutes and then rinse for at least 5 minutes with either saline or distilled water. (There is a stop watch in the drawer to use as a reminder that you can change tubes and put on the saline - it doesn't need to be timed that closely but I find I need a reminder to come back and switch tubes - I get sidetracked!) Leave the machine on STANDBY when you are done. NOTE: DO NOT leave any more than 0.5 ml of saline in the tube on the machine when you turn to standby since the fluid in the lines drain out into the tube and if the volume of fluid reaches the top of the aspiration rod, it can short out the electronics.

3. Refill the sheath and empty the waste as a curtesy for the next user as described above. Leave the sheath tank vented - it will entend it's lifetime of use.

4. Turn off the computer from the desktop pull down menu and the FACScan with the flat toggle switch at the front left of the machine .

For questions, please see Sue DeMaggio or John Desimone. Do not attempt to use the software from these instructions - this is only a reminder of the turn of and on sequences for the workstations. A 1.5 - 2 hour training session is necessary before using the software, available only from Sue. If neither Sue nor John is available to answer your questions, you may look up answers in the manuals on the shelf above the printer or contact Becton Dickinson's technical support department at 800-448-BDIS.