RE: FACS question

From: M.J. Waxdal (Waxy@fastsys.com)
Date: Thu Dec 13 2001 - 17:37:23 EST


No, it is not too harsh.  I am not particularly speaking of the response to
the current question, but of many of the questions posed on this venue.

There is more than one problem here.

But the major problem with many of the questions posed is that individuals
who are hired/assigned/want to use flow cytometers have no or inadequate
training.  Or to use a
historical quote "they know not what they do".  (It also appears that many
people do not have access to a library.  Many of the answers have been
published years ago.)

In spite of what instrument sales reps want you to think, this is not a
turn key operation, many people posing questions do not understand what
their instrument is doing, let alone their experiment.

For example, simply expecting FL1, or whatever, to give the correct answer
is like asking the score of a football game (seasonal choice) without
specifying the teams playing.

I am not trying to put down people who have a real interest in flow
cytometry.  Inadequate training can be resolved.  But, you cannot walk into
a flow lab and expect to be reasonably proficient in a week or a
month.  Dilettantes should get a cognoscente to perform the analyses for them.

This forum is not the place to get a basic training in flow
cytometry.  Even the brief courses offered by the instrument manufacturers
can get you started.

If you are going to ask a question at least logically think it out first.

Waxy



>Aren't you being a bit harsh?
>
>I want to suggest that we all try to phrase our responses in a manner that
>educates, but does not flog the person asking the question.  Yes, its really
>important to ask the right question, with a request for specific
>information.  Yes, we all grind our teeth in response to some questions.
>Really poorly phrased questions tend not to get answered.  However, there
>have been some very harsh responses in the last few weeks.  We all were new
>and/or ignorant at some point.  Lets not scare away people who might really
>benefit from the list !
>
>just mho...
>
>Rachel
>
>=======================================================
>Rachel M. Gerstein, Ph.D.
>Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
>Graduate Program in Immunology/Virology
>University of Massachusetts Medical School
>55 Lake Avenue North
>Worcester, MA 01655-0002
>(508) 856-1044
>(508) 856-5920 (FAX)
>
>
> > ----------
> > From:         J.Paul Robinson
> > Reply To:     jpr@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu
> > Sent:         Tuesday, December 11, 2001 9:20 PM
> > To:   Cytometry Mailing List
> > Subject:      Re: FACS question
> >
> >
> > Colleagues: I am going to answer this question in a manner that I hope you
> > all
> > understand (or not)......(think of the bad data issue)
> >
> > You can solve the problem by adding reagent A to reagent B, plotting FL3
> > Vs FL2.
> > If you add reagent C, then a single histogram of FL5 should do the trick.
> > I think you
> > could also try probe A and probe B, both of which should have the right
> > spectra...Oh,
> > turn the power of laser 1 up a bit, and you should get some valuable
> > data.....
> >
> > sorry, I couldn't resist it...
> > please stop using terms which are totally undefined....
> >
> > Paul Robinson
> >
> >
> > On 10 Dec 2001, at 11:58, Laura H
> > odges wrote:
> >
> >
> > I'd like to post a question on your website:
> >
> >
> > Can anyone suggest another P-gp accumulation probe
> > other than rhodamine 123 which has too broad of an
> > emission spectrum for my use.  I am trying to find a
> > P-gp probe that can be used with other fluorescent
> > markers in channels FL2, FL3, and FL4 in a multicolor
> > assay.
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Send your FREE holiday greetings online!
> > http://greetings.yahoo.com
> > J.Paul Robinson, PhD             PH:(765)4940757
> > Professor of Immunopharmacology
> > Professor of Biomedical Engineering
> > Purdue University          FAX:(765)4940517
> > EMAIL:jpr@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu
> > WEB: http://www.cyto.purdue.edu
> >
> >
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----------
M.J. Waxdal, PhD
FAST Systems, Inc.
8-5 Metropolitan Court
Gaithersburg, MD. 20878
301.977.0536 opt.1 ext. 12
mailto:waxy@fastsys.com
http://www.fastsys.com



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