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

InstrumentSuccessful performance checkSuccessful sterility checkComments
Aria III (sorter)04 May 202610 April 2026 
FACSDiscover S8 (sorter)04 May 202610 April 2026 
Attune (analyser)04 May 2026N/A 
Canto II (analyser)04 May 2026N/A 
Fortessa (analyser)04 May 2026N/A 
ID7000 (analyser)04 May 2026N/A 

Performance check = Laser, fluidic, and detector optimisation and assessment using instruments built in QC procedure.

Sterility check = 72hr @ 37°C in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth to detect for bacterial contamination, 120hr @ 30°C  in Yeast & Mould (YM) broth to detect yeast contamination, and a Mycoplasma test using isothermal PCR.  Sterility testing is completed once per month.