The Flow Cytometry Unit is home to Sweden's first Mass Cytometer, a , which is a part of the national resource for mass cytometry.
Mass Cytometry substitutes Lanthanide isotopes for fluorochromes and separates them by mass using time-of-flight measurement. Problems with background signal due to autofluorescence and limitations due to spectral overlap are thus eliminated. There are approximately 40 different isotopes available that can be conjugated to antibodies, as well as live/dead staining options. It is however not possible to acquire morphological data like on a traditional cytometer.
Linköping is a part of Science for Life Laboratory, Affinity Proteomics.Flow Cytometry is used to measure physical and biological parameters of single cells in suspension. Cell size, granularity, protein expression on the surface and intracellularly and DNA-content are examples of properties that can be determined by FACS.
There are currently four Flow Cytometers available, two are capable of sorting individual cells into plates, 5ml tubes and 15ml tubes. As for every complex and sensitive instrument, a driver's license is required to use any cytometer.