Difference Between Flow Cytometry and FACS

FACS is used as a cell sorter and enriched for a subset of cells which is often then studied in further detail using flow cytometry or other analytical techniques². Flow cytometry is used for cell analysis and is focused on measuring protein expression or co-expression within a mixed population of cells.

1. What is flow cytometry used for?
2. What is FACS technique?
3. What is FACS sorting?
4. What is FSC and SSC in flow cytometry?
5. Can flow cytometry detect dead cells?
6. What does flow cytometry tell us?
7. What does FACS buffer stand for?
8. How do you represent FACS data?
9. What class is FACS?
10. How are cells prepared for FACS sorting?
11. Why is pressure so important in FACS?

What is flow cytometry used for?

Flow cytometry is a laboratory method used to detect, identify, and count specific cells. This method can also identify particular components within cells. This information is based on physical characteristics and/or markers called antigens on the cell surface or within cells that are unique to that cell type.

What is FACS technique?

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), sometimes called fluorescence-assisted cell sorting, is a specialized type of flow cytometry that uses fluorescent markers to target and isolate cell groups. This cell sorting technique is commonly used in hematopoiesis, oncology, and stem cell biology research.

What is FACS sorting?

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is a technique to purify specific cell populations based on phenotypes detected by flow cytometry. This method enables researchers to better understand the characteristics of a single cell population without the influence of other cells.

What is FSC and SSC in flow cytometry?

Forward versus side scatter (FSC vs SSC) gating is commonly used to identify cells of interest based on size and granularity (complexity). It is often suggested that forward scatter indicates cell size whereas side scatter relates to the complexity or granularity of the cell.

Can flow cytometry detect dead cells?

Loss of membrane integrity is a definitive indicator of cell death in flow cytometric assays. Cells that exclude a dead cell dye are considered viable, while cells with a compromised membrane allow the dye inside into cell to stain an internal component, thus identifying the cell as dead.

What does flow cytometry tell us?

Cytometry, in its purest form, is the measurement of cell characteristics, which can include cell size, cell count, cell cycle and more. This technique allows researchers to get highly specific information about individual cells.

What does FACS buffer stand for?

Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer (FACS Buffer)

This basic FACS Buffer is a buffered saline solution that can be used for immunofluorescent. staining protocols, antibody and cell dilution steps, wash steps required for surface staining and flow cytometric analysis.

How do you represent FACS data?

FACS data are commonly presented as one- dimensional histograms or two-dimensional displays (dot displays or contour maps) with logarithmic axes that extend over a 'four- to five-decade' range, representing cells with flourescence values that differ 10,000- to 100,000-fold between the lower and upper ends of the scale.

What class is FACS?

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How are cells prepared for FACS sorting?

When processing tissue samples, pass cells through a 25-gauge needle. Avoid keeping cells at unnecessarily high concentration. Keep the cell suspension at 1-10 million/mL during processing, depending on cell type. We strongly suggest using a dead cell exclusion dye with any cell sorting experiment.

Why is pressure so important in FACS?

(B) Increasing the pressure increases the width of the core stream and the rate of the cells flowing past the interrogation point. ... This practice is especially important when performing rare-event analysis and DNA content cell cycle analysis, or particularly sensitive measurements.