Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur.
The Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur is a benchtop flow cytometer that can simultaneously analyze four fluorescent parameters using a dual argon and diode laser system. While many benchtop flow cytometers are limited to using fluorochromes that can be excited by an argon 488 nm laser line (such as fluorescein, phycoerythrin, propidium iodide, etc)., the FACSCalibur allows investigators to take advantage of red laser-excited probes, such as the phycobiliproteins allophycocyanin (APC) and phycoerythrin 590 and 620 (CryptoFluor-1 and -2) and the low molecular weight carbocyanin dye Cy5. The FACSCalibur uses a macintosh workstation and CellQuest acquisition/analysis software.
(Below.) The Becton-Dickinson FACSCalibur with cover closed and open (left top and bottom) and arrangement of the flow cell and PMTs. Four fluorescent PMTs allow the simultaneous analysis of up to fluor fluorochromes using dual laser excitation.
This instrument has been optimized for simultaneous analysis of PE-Cy5 and APC or Cy5 with minimal crossbeam compensation. To see sample data, go here.