Becton Dickinson FACS Jazz, 3 laser, 6 colour (2 blue, 2 red, 2 violet)

A cell sorter, an instrument which analyses separate single particles or cells at high speed for a specific fluorescent signal, can separate these particles, based on predetermined criteria. The cells can be collected for further culturing purposes or further downstream analysis. Components of a sorter would include high power lasers, fluidic containers and the necessary tubing, a flow cell and nozzle where cells are directed into single file prior to an interrogation point, a sort chamber where cells are deflected from the main stream and a collection device and a workstation to record all data. Various cameras in the system could be used to monitor the sorting process. The particular sorter will be housed in a biosafety level 3 laboratory at the Tygerberg campus of the Stellenbosch University. The instrument will be available to sort samples with high infection risks, such as HIV infected blood samples or mycobacterium tuberculosis infected cells. As the instrument can also be used as a flow cytometer, the instrument will be available for analysis during clinical trials or other routine analysis.