Getting Started

Abstract

Jumping in and getting started with any technology requires a certain familiarity with the instrumentation. In this section we get started with Tom Frey who presents an in depth description of two types of commercial flow cytometer/cell sorters and their differences. We get to know the various subsystems and how they interact with each other to provide us with interpretable end products - data and sorted cells. Howard Shapiro, one of the gurus of flow instrumentation, follows up this discussion with soma interesting caveats, take home lessons, and pointers for getting the best out of our instruments. Data output is the most crucial aspect of flow cytometry for users and porves to be the most frequently asked question category for new users. “What are we looking at?” Larry Seamer and Susan DeMaggio respectively discuss the standardized data file and the varied data displays, which are common to commercial cytometers. Wendy Schober and Dorothy Lewis try to keep us out of trouble by giving us some guidelines to common problems that occur in displaying, interpreting, and publishing data. Dave Coder then provides answers to the question of what to do with all the data we generate, suggesting ways to network and archive information.