The Flow Cytometry Facility (FCF) is jointly operated by The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and the University Health Network (UHN). We provide academic and corporate clients access to several state-of-the-art analytical flow cytometers and high-speed cell sorting services. We also offer comprehensive training and education as well as expert consultation services to enable our users to utilize this technology to enhance the scope and quality of their research. We are conveniently located in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District, in the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning (PGCRL) and in the Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower (PMCRT). All our services are for research use only, not for use in diagnostic or clinical procedures.

Operation of our cell sorters is by FCF staff only. To avail of our cell sorting service, all clients must complete our online training course, hosted by FluoroFinder, in addition to a free of charge consultation meeting with our cell sorting manager in advance of their first cell sorting experiment.

  • To request access to the online training course, submit a FluoroFinder Academic Plus Membership Request (listed under the Training Services category) in iLab.
  • To request a consultation meeting after completion of the online training course, submit a New Client Sorting Consultation Request (listed under the Sorting Services category) in iLab.

We offer a limited operator assisted acquisition service to clients who are not trained to operate our analytical instruments independently. After consultation with FCF staff about experimental goals and set-up, clients can bring their stained samples to be acquired by an expert operator.

  • To request this service, submit an Analyzer Assisted Acquisition Request (listed under the Analyzer Requests category) in iLab.

To operate our analytical instruments independently, clients must complete our online training course, hosted by FluoroFinder, in addition to completing our hands-on Analyzer Training Course.

Our Analyzer Training Course is intended for clients who plan to independently use our analyzers frequently (at least twice/month).

Clients who require less frequent or intensive use of our analyzers are recommended to avail of our Assisted Acquisition service.

  • To request access to the online training course, submit a FluoroFinder Academic Plus Membership Request (listed under the Training Services category) in iLab.
  • To request a place in our Analyzer Training Course after completion of the online training course, submit an Analyzer Training Course Request (listed under the Training Services category) in iLab.

Magnetic cell separation technology (using a magnet to separate cells labelled with superparamagnetic particle conjugated antibodies) can be used to enrich heterogeneous cell samples for particular cell populations prior to sorting, or as an endpoint itself.

The Miltenyi Biotec AutoMACS Pro is an automated column-based magnetic cell separation technology. We currently have one AutoMACS Pro, located at our PMCRT node, that is available for use by clients who have completed our AutoMACS training course.

  • To request training, submit an AutoMACS Training Request (listed under the Training Services category) in iLab.

We provide expert consultation services to enable our clients to utilize cytometry technology to enhance the scope and quality of their research. This includes assistance with experimental design/planning, panel design, optimal sample preparation, use of appropriate experimental controls, troubleshooting and protocol development.

We offer a New Client Sorting Consultation service for clients who have not used our cell sorting services previously & a General Sorting Consultation service for existing clients who require additional advice or assistance.

  • Cell sorting consultations can requested by submitting the appropriate request (listed under the Sorting Services category) in iLab.

We also offer a consultation service for all other general enquires or assistance, which can be requested by submitting a  General Consultation Request (listed under the General Requests category) in iLab..

Data Analysis Service:

We offer a data analysis service to clients who are not familiar with flow cytometry data analysis softwares or require additional support/troubleshooting with their own data analysis. After consultation with FCF staff about experimental set-up, etc, clients can share their raw data files to be analyzed with their preferred data analysis software (see below).

  • To request data analysis, submit a Data Analysis Service Request (listed in the Data Analysis category) in iLab.

Data Analysis Software:

We hold an academic site license for flow cytometry data analysis software, FlowJo 10 (BD Biosciences)

Clients can purchase an individual license for FlowJo through our Core at a reduced academic rate.

  • To purchase a software license submit the FlowJo Portal License request (listed under the Data Analysis category) in iLab.