Experimental Techniques and Flow Cytometer Cell Sorter (FACS III) : I. Maintenance and Preperation of Flow Channels

This paper is to provide users of FACS III (Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter) with an immediately useful protocol for maintenance and proper conditioning of the flow channels. It describes (1) a general feature of the machine, (2) accuracy index of measurement, (3) choice of a standard sample useful for machine adjustment, (4) how to clean the flow channels at the end of an experiment, (5) how to set up flow channels at the beginning for efficient performance of experiment, (6) how to manage with a progressive deteriolation of flow characteristics that occurs during experiment, and (7) how to find suitable levels of pressure on sheath and sample which insure a stable axial flow of the sample.