Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting
The Flow Cytometry & Cell Sorting Core Facility at Centro Ciencia & Vida provides comprehensive flow cytometry analysis and high-precision cell sorting to support basic and translational research.
Our specialists deliver end-to-end technical and scientific support—from experimental design and panel optimization to data acquisition and interpretation—ensuring efficient, reproducible, and high-quality assays.
What is Flow Cytometry?
Flow cytometry is a high throughput, multiparametric method for measuring the physical and chemical properties of individual particles in suspension, such as cells, nuclei, or mitochondria. As particles flow single file through one or more lasers, detectors capture forward scatter (an indicator of size), side scatter (granularity/complexity), and fluorescence from tagged markers, revealing specific features or molecules. Instruments configured for cell sorting can then physically isolate defined subpopulations, enabling downstream functional assays and other experimental applications.
Our Services
- Detection of surface and intracellular antigens
- Cell counting
- Determination of transfection efficiency
- Cell kinetics studies
- Cell cycle analysis
- Analysis of cell viability, necrosis, and apoptosis
- Analysis of cell proliferation
- Soluble cytokine detection assays
- Analysis of DNA content
- Determination of ploidy
- Multiparametric analysis of up to 16 colors, functional assays, and gene expression
- Analysis of complex and/or rare populations
- Analysis of microparticles at the nanometric scale (>90 nm)
- High-speed sorting of cell populations (enrichment, purity, or single cell sorting)
Our Equipment
Our facility houses two analytical flow cytometers (BD FACSCanto™ II and BD FACSymphony™ A1) and a cell sorter (BD FACSAria™ II) which enable robust, multiparametric quantitative analyses and isolation of defined subpopulations of cells in high purity.
In addition to these instruments, which resolve cells by physical and fluorescent parameters, a workstation dedicated to data analysis, and expert staff enable streamlined processing, visualization, and interpretation.
Flow Cytometry
This analyzer cytometer is available for users to conduct their studies. It is equipped with 3 lasers (violet 405 nm, blue 488 nm, and red 633 nm) and 10 detectors: 8 for fluorescence emission detection and 2 for morphology (FSC and SSC). This equipment can be operated directly by the users, provided they have prior experience with the instrument or have received training from a specialist at the Center. If not, the specialist will be responsible for running the samples.
$34,000 per hour
Flow Cytometry
This analyzer cytometer is equipped with 4 lasers (violet 405 nm, blue 488 nm, yellow-green 561 nm, and red 637 nm) and 19 detectors: 16 for fluorescence emission detection and 3 for morphology (FSC, SSC, and SSC for small particles up to 90 nm). In this case, the equipment is operated exclusively by the specialist at the Center.
$40,000 per hour for normal particles
$50,000 per hour for small particles
Cell Sorting
This cell sorter is available for users to conduct their studies. It is equipped with 3 lasers (near UV 375 nm, blue 488 nm, and red 633 nm) and 11 detectors: 9 for fluorescence emission detection and 2 for morphology (FSC and SSC). This equipment is operated exclusively by the specialist at the Center.
$50,000 per hour, with a minimum usage of 1 hour
Book Your Appointment
To schedule an appointment, please call +569 9359 7885, Monday to Friday from 10:00-13:00 and from 14:00-18:00 (with at least 48 hours’ notice). For questions, contact: sorterfundacion@cienciavida.org
BD FACSCanto II & BD FACSymphony A1
Weekly calendars are available at:
BD FACSCanto II Calendar
BD FACSymphony A1 Calendar
Calendars update instantly after booking. Monday slots open at 10:00 AM the previous Friday; all other days open at 10:00 AM on Monday. Please notify us promptly if you need to cancel.
BD FACSAria II
Monthly calendar is available at:
BD FACSAria II Calendar
Sorting requires users to coordinate their work with our specialist in advance. Late cancellations (less than 24 hours' notice) will incur a one-hour usage fee.
Director Cytometry and Cell Sorter