The Flow Cytometry Facility for the School of Biological Sciences is based at the Kings’ Building campus in Edinburgh.  We offer a full range of flow cytometric services to students and staff based at the University and to external companies and academics. We will sort and/or analyse cells and other particles using our state-of-the-art instrumentation as well as provide full flow cytometry training and consultancy.

Three researchers looking at an attune flow cytometer

Our instruments and their capabilities

Spectral ribbon plot from the Sony ID7000 flow cytometer

Expert support and technical assistance

Attune optical filter set

Contact details, prices, and booking information

Christopher Hall sitting in front of a BD FACSDiscover S8 flow cytometer

Meet the Team

Research facilitated by the Flow Cytometry Facility should be acknowledged in research publications. This important metric helps us to provide the best service possible using the most capable instumentation available.

Service Status

InstrumentLast successful performance checkLast successful sterility checkComments
Aria III (sorter)24 February 202612 February 2026 
FACSDiscover S8 (sorter)23 February 202612 February 2026 
Attune (analyser)23 February 2026N/A 
Canto II (analyser)23 February 2026N/A 
Fortessa (analyser)23 February 2026N/A 
ID7000 (analyser)24 February 2026N/A 

Performance check = Laser, fluidic, and detector optimisation and assessment using instruments built in QC procedure.  Instrument performance check is completed at least once per week. 

Sterility check = 72hr @ 37°C in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth to detect for bacterial contamination and 120hr @ 30°C  in Yeast Extract Peptone (YEP) broth for the detection of yeast contamination.  Sterility testing is completed at least once per month.