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from: h1913szo@ella.hu (Janos Szollosi May 24, 93)
to: cytometry@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu
Subject: Old Instruments
Reading the letters from Alice Given and Eric Martz I felt
obliged to comment the debate on OLD INSTRUMENTS.
(Eric, as you can see I am on the network, although I receive the
letters with a few days delay.)
I think this is a great idea, and we should try everything to
make it work.
Form Hungary I can see the following problems:
The Companies are not interested to resell used instruments, they
want to sell new ones. They have some chance here since some
support is coming into these country from the European Common
Market in programs like PHARE, FEFA, ACCORD. We can write grants
and some lucky ones can buy the best equipment on the market.
- From the same amount we could buy 4 or 5 used equipments making
5 laboratories happy, but this is not the interest of commercial
companies.
It is a good point that instruments should come to places where
there is some cytometric background. One possibility is that
departments (with cytometric experience, like us) help other
institutes in the same city or nearby to install the used
equipment and provide support in the first two year. The other
possibility is that visiting scientist returning form western
countries might have the necessary knowledge for running flow
facility.
Places receiving used flow cytometers should have also some
financial background since the plasma tube should be replaced
once in a while.
If the intent of a lab from Eastern Europe is serious they should
find a way to pay for the shipping. If they cannot come up with
the necessary fund how would they replace the laser tube? May
be the grants (ACCORD, PHARE) should accept the application
operating with used instruments, since this way the budgets can
be kept much lower.
I have heard an example from Bill Hyun (DMC, UCSF) that his FACS
IV will de donated to a lab in Bohemia and the Czech airline
covers the expenses of shipping and installment.
The other help could be when special spare parts are needed in
this countries for upgrading their old flow cytometer. I already
new one person (Janos Szollosi) who could use the optical
detection system of a FACS IV or FACS starplus (this one piece
of metal from the back of the optical bench holding PMTs,
filters, mirrors.) I have PMTs and the appropriate electronics.
If you want to donate this spare parts please contact me.
Janos Szollosi
Department of Biophysics,
Medical University School of Medicine,
Nagyerdei krt. 98
H-4012 Debrecen, Hungary
Phone/FAX: (36) (52) 312-623
E-mail: h1913szo@ella.hu
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