The Aurora CS is the first sorter produced by Cytek, and uses the same full spectrum technology as Cytek’s non-sorting Aurora and Northern Lights flow cytometers. Some FMHS researchers will be familiar with the Aurora and Northern Lights instruments in SBS.
Full spectrum technology is a recent development in flow cytometry that detects almost the entire emission spectrum of each fluorochrome, rather than just the peak fluorescence as in conventional cytometers. By deconvolution, the signals from all the fluorochromes are separated more completely than is possible on a conventional instrument, and even closely overlapping signals can be resolved.
Our new sorter will have 5 lasers for excitation and 64 detectors for fluorescent emission. It will be capable of sorting 6 populations simultaneously, resolving particles down to 110nm in diameter, and have the same performance in analysis mode as the instruments in SBS.
At the moment, it is expected that the new system will arrive in May. Once the sorter is installed, there will be a call-out for people wishing to be trained on it by a Cytek representative.