We've had our LSR for a year now, UV/blue at first, then red the last 6 months. We already published one paper using it (J Immunol. 2000 165:3094-8) for DNA content (DAPI) with three surface antibody stains (FITC, PE, PerCP). The DNA CVs found there should say a lot. Basically, I would say it's absolutely the best cytometer I've ever used, hands down. Of course, it won't sort cells. But it does make the Calibur look (in my opinion) like a toy, due to much better fluidics and a reliable hardware/software interface. The only real problems with the instrument at this point (hopefully these will someday evaporate) is that the parameter/fluorescence descriptions do not match up (apparently nobody at B-D thinks it's important enough to call FL6 FL6 instead of calling it SSC-width; no real problem if you're experienced, but try lumping that on top of 7-8 parameter analysis for a novice, and you have a very good recipe for disaster). There is also a small problem with FL3 fluorescence getting into FL6 (or is it SSC-W?), but we are working (together with B-D) on a fix. Bottom line; if you have the money, buy one. I should mention that we have absolutely no financial affiliation with B-D. -- Howard T. Petrie, Ph.D. Head, Laboratory of Developmental Immunology Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Box 341, 1275 York Avenue New York, NY 10021 phone (212)639-2149 fax (212)794-4019
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