For detailed description of our policies please download our full policy documentation ~
UD Flow Cytometry & Single Cell Core Policies
Usage and Scheduling
Services must be scheduled in advance and must be completed using iLab Operations Software >
(https://udel.ilabsolutions.com/sc/4130/bio-imaging-center/?tab=equipment).
Please follow the booking instructions on the iLab calendar under Flow Cytometry tab. A 24-hour notice to cancel a FCM or FACS experiment is required. Cancellations with less than the required notice will be billed for time that the appointment would have taken at the discretion of the core staff. Please contact the Core Director/ Bioimaging Staff to schedule services and consult with staff to determine project needs.
A minimum of 48-hour notice is required to schedule sample isolation, and routine FCM/FACS Analysis if assistance is required. A minimum of 72-hour notice is required for cell sorting. For unsupervised usage and pre-approved usage, scheduling is facilitated by use of the iLab but must be approved by a member of the Core Facility. Please contact core personnel for details on signing up on the calendar.
Biosafety
Users must complete all UD Environmental Health and Safety training before working in the laboratory. Check with the EHS office for training requirements (www1.udel.edu/ehs/).
The UD Flow Cytometry & Single Cell Core is suitable as a BSL-2 (Biological Safety Level 2) laboratory, but the work done is generally limited to BSL-1/2. BSL-2+ work is only permitted with permission and project details will be discussed with Core staff AND Environmental Health and Safety staff prior to starting this type of project. The use of fixatives is strongly encouraged to reduce biohazards. Radioactive materials are prohibited. Chemicals that are hazardous must be discussed with Core staff before initiating any work that involves toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic or otherwise harmful agents.
To analyze samples containing potential bio-hazards without fixation, such as unfixed human, non-human primate or viral-transduced or infected cells, etc., users must use the instruments housed in biological safety cabinets. Samples containing known biohazard or infectious agents which are BSL2 MUST be fixed in a 0.5-2% formaldehyde solution for at least 30 minutes before acquisition.
Lab Safety
All users must follow these guidelines:
- No food or drink consumption is allowed in the laboratory.
- Gloved hands are not permitted on door handles for any reason.
- Users are responsible for removing trash from the bench areas and cleaning up spills.
- Cleaning & QC logs if required to be filled out must be completed, initialed and dated.
- All hazardous materials must be approved for use or entry into the laboratory.
- The Core Manager must be notified if a spill is hazardous regardless of size of the spill.
- The use of a lab coat and gloves is highly recommended. Eye protection is required by building safety & EHS.
- Biohazard and chemical waste must be disposed of properly.
Lab Use
Users are expected to leave the laboratory and equipment (hood, centrifuges, cytometers, benches, sinks, etc.) in clean, safe conditions, and in good working order. Use of the lab facilities within the Core is a privilege, and users are expected to be mindful of the shared nature of the facility, and of their own responsibility to maintain a safe and clean laboratory environment.
Access to the lab can and will be revoked for:
- Leaving spills or messes in the lab, safety violations
- Failure to schedule or tardiness to assisted appointments
- Use of dangerous chemicals or infectious agents without permission
- Misappropriating reagents and supplies
- Failure to comply with lab policies
- Unauthorized use of equipment
- Unauthorized persons in lab
- Damage to equipment
Violation of Lab Policies – Using the flow core is a privilege with responsibilities. Our researchers depend on each other to ensure that core policies are followed for instrument operations, scheduling, and cleaning.
Billing for sample preparation ~
(Upstream of Flow cytometry/Sorting/SingleCell)
Rates for animal necropsy/animal work (cardiac puncture, bone marrow aspiration and spleen cell preparation), sample preparation, and data analysis by UD Flow Core staff are provided to investigators as an agreement, purchase order or “statement of work”. This includes cell culture, cell transfection, creation of figures, interpretation of results, and creating electronic files (PowerPoint, Excel, FCS Express7/FlowJo/PDF, etc.). Consultation for gene editing, plasmid construction can be provided as a one-time no-charge appointment only to facilitate downstream flow cytometry applications including analysis and/or sorting.
