Guidelines for Flow Cytometry Usage

1) Training

• IBC Flow Cytometry Facility users need to be trained on proper usage and maintenance of the instruments prior to use of the cytometers. 
• The training session runs for approximately 2 hours. 
• Rotating and summer students may sit in on the training session; however, they are not allowed to use the facility unsupervised. 
• To schedule a training session please contact Valerie Eaton (v-eaton@northwestern.edu) with your name, contact information and your laboratory affiliation. 
• Please allow at least 2 weeks to coordinate a time for your session. 

2) Scheduling and Costs

• Sessions are limited to 2 hours/user/day during normal workday hours of 8-5PM Monday-Friday.  During off-hours on weekdays and on weekends, you may sign-up for time as needed.
• Sign-up at:  https://orders.biotechlab.northwestern.edu/ibc_flow/Scheduling/Calendar.cfm
• To access the sign-up calendar, and for registration to use the IBC facility, please contact Carmen Moreno-Davis at 312-503-4637
• FY11 rates =$21.56/hour of use

3) Data Storage/Off-Line Analysis

• The IBC Facility is equipped with 1 off-line analysis workstation utilizing FACSDiva.  This workstation is available on a first come-first serve basis for all users. 
• Alternatively, labs may purchase as many off-line versions of FlowJo as needed to analyze data in the lab at their convenience.  Please consult with Valerie Eaton if you would like to purchase a copy for your lab computer. 
• Each user is responsible for removing acquired/analyzed data from the facility after 3 months. 
• The IBC Facility will not archive any data older than 3 months, and is not responsible for data that is lost if the user fails to promptly remove it from the workstations.
• THE USE OF FLASH DRIVES IS PROHIBITED ON ALL COMPUTERS IN THE FACILITY. Data MUST be transferred off acquisition and analysis workstations through the departmental transfer server.  Instructions for its use are posted at each cytometer.  This server is meant for transfer of data ONLY and is not meant for long-term data storage.
• Maintenance is performed on all cytometers on the last Friday of each month.  At this time, any experiments remaining in the browser windows of the FACSDiva software (LSRII and CantoII) will be deleted to reduce database size and improve system performance.  THE FACILITY WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR LOST DATA DUE TO USER FAILURE TO EXPORT AND TRANSFER DATA FROM ACQUISITION WORKSTATIONS.