Re: Problems seeing Cy-5 and PE-Cy5

From: Mark A. KuKuruga (kukuru@umich.edu)
Date: Tue Mar 21 2000 - 16:42:02 EST


> Howard Robinson writes:
>
> Problem:The signals in the Cy5 and PE-Cy5 channels [on a Cytomation MoFlo,
> equipped with a Melles Griot 35mW Helium Neon laser (Laser #2)] are very low.
> On unstained cells the signal only occupies 20% to 30% of the first decade on
> the display.
> Essentially all the events in these channels are cramped down near the zero
> channel.  This is a real problem with dual parameter histograms such as FITC vs
> Cy-5.  When the Cy-5 negative population is so low, the FITC (pos)/ Cy-5
> (neg) population is difficult to discern.
> In discussing this problem with Cytomation, increasing PMT voltages to push out
> the negative population causes thermeonic emissions in theses channels.
> So, we are faced with either negative populations that are too low to view data
> or we are faced with creating an erroneous population.
> Question:
> How can we move out the negative population without thermeonic emissions
> creating a ghost population?

Howard,
Are you sure this isn't a calibration problem?  Assuming we're talking log amps,
there isn't a zero -- only logs that we choose to include.  If you shift the
offset to the "low" end of the log range, your signals should come of the
baseline . . . something to ask Cytomation about.
MAK.
--
Mark A. KuKuruga, Managing Director
University of Michigan Core Flow Cytometry
<http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/flow_cytometry>
phone: 734-647-3216  fax: 734-936-7376
kukuru@umich.edu



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