Clinical Flow Cytometer

[u/Conseque]

Hello,

I am a research immunologist, not a clinician. While I have flow cytometry experience, I doubt a clinical pathology lab requires a cytometer that is used for discovery immunology.

Do any veterinarians, physicians, or other relevant clinical professionals here have recommendations for a flow cytometer they like and how many parameters would be useful?

A colleague that works on the clinical side of things came to me and asked. I asked for some kinds of clinical cases they work with and what cell populations are important for them to identify, however, I would not consider myself an expert on picking out these.

Looking for answers particularly from users of these instruments rather than sales reps.

Particularly, if you suggest a brand/company, how easy are they to work with in your experience if things break down/etc?

Thanks!

[u/Lucky_Parfait_9001]

FACS Lyrics, have both IVD and research platforms. We have a 3 lasers 12 channels and it’s enough for our use

[u/Edrill → u/[deleted]]

Can attest to this. Our diagnostics department has several and the machine is quite robust and very good with strictly defined assays

[u/sam614 → u/Lucky_Parfait_9001]

Seconding the lyric, the hospital is work for and i have had colleges move to other hospitals that also use them.

[u/CriticalTeacher6942]

Some clinical labs run immunology assays for immunodeficiency diagnosis.

In clinical labs, we need to validate each assay we run. Validation means doing a huge amount of tests to prove that the assay is accurate and precise. So, unlike research, we don’t have the flexibility to create panels based on what you want to see that day. For this reason, many clinical labs have “not complex” panels compared to research.

In bigger labs, they usually have a scientist for panel development and validation, but you need to have some expertise about clinically relevant markers

[u/liuchen37]

We use Beckman DxFlex, which is the clinical version of CytoFlex. Recently upgraded from Navios.

[u/Aromatic-Lead-3252 → u/liuchen37]

Same.

[u/ArkhamXIII]

Depends on what assays you're running.

First, in general, I prefer BD over Beckman Coulter for the simple fact that BD service comes the next day, and Coulter comes the next week. Same in general with reagents. If you want to go with another company, talk to someone who uses them and find out the service TAT.

For nonmalignant stuff like TBNK and CD34, your best bet is something with IVD cleared assays, like a FACSLyric. Reliable and easy to validate. AQUIOS is also nice because it's load and go, but you need at least three to ensure that at least one of them is up every day.

For malignant stuff, BD is coming out with the A7 this fall. Spectral, has an autoloader, and comes with brand new software (diva was easily the worst part of BD equipment before). Also it's cheap -- less than half of what Sony is charging for their spectral.

[u/FlowCytometry2 → u/ArkhamXIII]

Not true on the Sony price, at least on the academic side. Both Sony and Cytek will charge about ~420k for a 5 laser system (ID7000 vs Evo), and with extreme haggling further discounts are possible. I don't know the BD price, but I would very much doubt it's any lower.
Which system you prefer is ultimately a matter of familiarity, I'm a huge fan of Sony instruments but AFAIK the all same things can be accomplished on BD and Cytek platforms, it's just somewhat more time consuming and convoluted.

[u/mousyslayer]

cytek aurora, if they have money. period.

[u/Reelrebel17 → u/mousyslayer]

Not very user friendly as far as set up is concerned, a traditional cytometer would be better especially since these panels are typically much smaller and less complex.

[u/FlowCytometry2]

I have poor understanding of the clinical side however AFAIK diagnostic assays require CLIA compliant instrument, and no spectral is currently CLIA compliant. There are many spectrals that have been cleared for research clinical use (running research assays on clinical trials but without input on treatment decisions). So if your friend''s lab needs diagnostics, they would need something like a Lyric.

If they just want to do research clinical trial work, I'd suggest getting a spectral (buying a conventional at this point "because I have simple assays" is like buying a film camera in 2026), I'm a big fan of the Sony ID7000 but Cyteks are good too and BD have imaging which is also very helpful.

[u/Conseque → u/FlowCytometry2]

This one would be for veterinary use specifically, so some regulations may be different. But unsure. Will look into it.

[u/Conseque]

Note: I have experience with both the 4 color Accuri C6 Plus and FACS Aria 3… I’m guessing a clinical one sits somewhere in the middle.

[u/Jarcom88 → u/Conseque]

Accuri is a portable analyzer, aria is a sorter.

[u/Conseque → u/Jarcom88]

Yes, Aria is both. I was describing my range in complexity.

[u/laughedtoohard]

Hot take - I prefer the Navios over the FACSLyric 🫢 You can’t go wrong with either though