Cell Sorters
Check Instrument StatusOverview
The cell sorters can be divided into two categories: droplet-based and mechanical.
Droplet-Based Sorters
Mechanical Sorters
Choosing a Cell Sorter
When selecting a cell sorter you’ll first want to ensure that the instrument has the appropriate lasers and detectors for your panel, which can be done with the “Sorter Fluorophore Comparison Table” below. If you don’t have a panel yet, be sure to design it for the chosen sorter! The second component of sorter selection is to determine if your specific experiment will benefit from the special features available on certain instruments. An overview of the different features is provided below. Feel free to contact the staff if you need further assistance determining the best sorter for your experiment!
Notes
Patient samples are only allowed on the Aria Fusion, Bigfoot and Tyto.
New to the cell sorting service? Check out the FAQ for tips on preparing for your first cell sorting experiment.
Available Sorters
More details on each sorter can be found on the dedicated pages linked below. This may include further information about special features, detailed configuration and optical layout, troubleshooting tips, and anything else specific to the sorter.
Note: The CAT Facility staff and iLab scheduler site use nomenclature to specifically identify each instrument: Model_# lasers-# detectors. When publishing data from CAT Facility instruments please see the Boilerplate Texts under the About menu for guidance on writing the methods section.
![AdobePhotoshopExpress_2021-11-01_22-25-19-0500](https://voices.uchicago.edu/ucflow/files/2021/02/AdobePhotoshopExpress_2021-11-01_22-25-19-0500.jpeg)
FACSAria
Droplet-Based Sorters
FACSAria II 4-15, FACSAria Fusion 5-18, FACSAria III 3-14
![AdobePhotoshopExpress_2021-11-01_22-15-27-0500](https://voices.uchicago.edu/ucflow/files/2021/02/AdobePhotoshopExpress_2021-11-01_22-15-27-0500.jpeg)
Bigfoot
Droplet-Based Sorter
Traditional and spectral capabilities
![AdobePhotoshopExpress_2021-11-01_22-20-07-0500](https://voices.uchicago.edu/ucflow/files/2021/02/AdobePhotoshopExpress_2021-11-01_22-20-07-0500.jpeg)
MACSQuant Tyto
Mechanical Sorter
Pricing
The droplet-based sorters are billed at an hourly rate with pricing differences for assisted vs unassisted sorting. The MACSQuant Tyto pricing is a combination of the hourly rate and single-use cartridge.
Assisted Cell Sorting
FACSAria and Bigfoot- Charge as booked on iLab
- Booked unused time charged in full
Unassisted Cell Sorting
FACSAria and Bigfoot- Charged as booked on iLab
- Discount applies outside of normal operating hours only
Unassisted Cell Sorting
MACSQuant Tyto- Charged based on time used
- Staff time will be charged for initial template settings (15min at $28/hr). Once a template is designed, the instrument can be used without involvement from the staff
- Cartridges available from the CAT Facility at a discounted rate: Normal Cartridge ($100/unit) / High-Speed ($153/unit)