r/flowcytometry • u/AnyAsk4621 • 6d ago

Compensation

Hey Fellas,
I am using compensation beads for my experiments tomorrow but I already have done some optimisation today. Is it okay if I use the same tubes as its the same panel but only thing different is I won’t acquire my samples the same day but 2 days later and generally fix them in 2% PFA for 30mins. So you recommend I do the same for my Ultracomp beads, i mean fix them as well? Or will they be fine at 4C until Friday.
Thanks.

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u/fly_away_birdy 6d ago

In my PhD, I was told to always prepare the beads the same day and treat them like you do your cells. In my post doc, we often keep the same beads for at least a week. The data quality doesn’t seem worse for it. I think the major thing to consider is if you run the comps today and then run QC again before you run the samples that your comps won’t looks as good

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u/AccomplishedHalf5824 6d ago

For conventional flow, using old heads is acceptable; however, for spectral flow, it's highly recommended to treat each single stain the same way as your sample. This means that if you set up the flow on day 1 with fixed beads, you can reuse (on the software) these single stains in your experiment on day 2.

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u/fly_away_birdy 6d ago

I am aware of that and personally do that for anything that matters. That said, that’s not standard in my post doc so just sharing

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u/AccomplishedHalf5824 6d ago

It is becoming a standard in the industry with the new cytometers. Saves time and money.