PM Flow Logo Reseach and Innovation Cores Logo

Driving research forward with state-of-the-art technology and expertise.

The Princess Margaret Flow facility offers state-of-the-art analytical flow cytometry and cell sorting services to both UHN and other local medical research organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

Get Started
PM Flow Logo Reseach and Innovation Cores Logo

Driving research forward with state-of-the-art technology and expertise.

The Princess Margaret Flow facility offers state-of-the-art analytical flow cytometry and cell sorting services to both UHN and other local medical research organizations in the Greater Toronto Area.

Get Started

Welcome to PM Flow Cytometry Facility

Our experienced staff can provide training, assisted acquisition, consultation, and data analysis upon request. To learn more about the services and how to access them, please email us at pmflow@uhnresearch.ca.

We are open to all UHN Investigators and External Clients. Access will require user registration and an introduction to the facility policies and instruments. New personnel will require training for the instruments they wish to use, and once training has been completed, the users will be provided with secure access to our facility.

For a detailed guide on how to create a new user account and access PM Flow, please refer to our manual, which you can download here.

Please read our After-Hours Policy here.

Over

250

active users from 46 different labs served

Currently serving

11

different institutions

Over

50

years of combined experience

What We Offer

PM Flow offers many services for all of their users.

Analytical Flow Cytometry

+

Analytical Flow Cytometry

  • 6 Analytical Flow Cytometers may be used to quantify suspended cells, or other particles (e.g., beads), that have been previously labeled with fluorescent reagents
  • Analyze up to 18 different fluorescent parameters simultaneously at a flow rate of up to 40,000 particles/second
  • UHN personnel with After-Hours Access may use our flow cytometers 24/7
  • Visiting researchers may access our equipment during operational hours with operator assisted processing

Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting

+

FACS

  • Dedicated operators provide high-speed cell sorting services using the 3 FACS instruments
  • Analyze up to 18 different fluorescent parameters simultaneously at a flow rate of up to 40,000 particles/second
  • Sort cells at typical speeds ranging from 4000 - 20000 events per second depending on the size of cells and/or their sensitivity to fluidic pressure.

Consultation & Data Analysis

+

Consultation & Data Analysis

  • Help designing a new flow cytometry panel or designing a new experiment.
  • Help analyzing your flow cytometry data or preparing it for publication.
  • Instructing new users on theoretical concepts and instrument operation.
  • PMflow offers our customers a FlowJo Portal Site License at a discounted price of $350 per year. This is a user-based licensing system for a popular flow analysis software For more info. please contact pmflow@uhnresearch.ca.

What We Offer

PM Flow offers many services for all of their users.

Analytical Flow Cytometry

+

Analytical Flow Cytometry

  • 6 Analytical Flow Cytometers may be used to quantify suspended cells, or other particles (e.g., beads), that have been previously labeled with fluorescent reagents
  • Analyze up to 18 different fluorescent parameters simultaneously at a flow rate of up to 40,000 particles/second
  • UHN personnel with After-Hours Access may use our flow cytometers 24/7
  • Visiting researchers may access our equipment during operational hours with operator assisted processing

Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting

+

FACS

  • Dedicated operators provide high-speed cell sorting services using the 3 FACS instruments
  • Analyze up to 18 different fluorescent parameters simultaneously at a flow rate of up to 40,000 particles/second
  • Sort cells at typical speeds ranging from 4000 - 20000 events per second depending on the size of cells and/or their sensitivity to fluidic pressure.

Consultation & Data Analysis

+

Consultation & Data Analysis

  • Help designing a new flow cytometry panel or designing a new experiment.
  • Help analyzing your flow cytometry data or preparing it for publication.
  • Instructing new users on theoretical concepts and instrument operation.
  • PMflow offers our customers a FlowJo Portal Site License at a discounted price of $350 per year. This is a user-based licensing system for a popular flow analysis software For more info. please contact pmflow@uhnresearch.ca.

Equipment

We provide cutting-edge equipment to help research communities accelerate their research.

Analyzers

Our facility is currently equipped with seven BD analytical flow cytometers whose configurations vary. To view more information on the number of lasers and detectors available, click show more to obtain additional details for individual instruments.

▸ BD LSR Fortessa 1 (5 lasers, 18 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
UV (355nm) 3 BUV395/ BUV496/ BUV737
Violet (405nm) 6 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650/ BV711/ BV786
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP-Cy5.5
Yellow-Green (561nm) 4 PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
▸ BD LSR Fortessa 2 (5 lasers, 18 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
UV (355nm) 3 BUV395/ BUV496/ BUV737
Violet (405nm) 6 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650/ BV711/ BV786
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP-Cy5.5
Yellow-Green (561nm) 4 PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
▸ BD LSR X20 (4 lasers, 13 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
Violet (405nm) 3 BV421/ BV510/ BV605
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP-Cy5.5
Green (543nm) 5 PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
▸ Beckman Cytoflex 1 (4 lasers, 13 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes
Violet (405nm) 4 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP or PerCP-Cy5.5
Red (633nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
Yellow 4 PE/ PETR/ PECY5 or PECY5.5/ PEcy7
▸ Beckman Cytoflex 2 (4 lasers, 13 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes
Violet (405nm) 4 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP or PerCP-Cy5.5
Red (633nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
Yellow 4 PE/ PETR/ PECY5 or PECY5.5/ PEcy7
▸ Sony ID7000 (5 lasers, 38 channels typically*)
Laser Color/Wavelength Spectral Channels Fluors/Channel*
355 36 8
405 35 10
488 32 7
561 26 8
637 19 5
Total 148 38

* Fluorophore choices are only limited by the excitation wavelength and the extent of their spectral overlap (i.e., breadth of their spectral emission curves). The numbers in the table represent typical numbers for traditional fluorophore combinations. An even greater number of detectable fluors/channel can be achieved when using novel fluors with narrower emission peaks.

Cell Sorters

Our facility is currently equipped with 3 active high-speed sorters, capable of sorting cells at impressive rates. To view additional details click show more to obtain more regarding specific instruments.

▸ Beckman Mo-Flo Astrios 1 (4 lasers, 14 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
Violet (405nm) 5 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650/ BV711
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP-Cy5.5
Green (561nm) 4 PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
▸ Beckman Mo-Flo Astrios 2 (4 lasers, 14 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
Violet (405nm) 5 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650/ BV711
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP-Cy5.5
Green (561nm) 4 PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
▸ Beckman Mo-Flo Astrios 3 (3 lasers, 11 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
Violet (405nm) 2 BV421/ BV510
Blue (488nm) 6 FITC/ PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7
▸ BD Aria Fusion (5 lasers, 18 channels)
Laser Color/Wavelength Fluorescent Channels Typical Fluorochromes per channel
UV (355nm) 3 BUV395/ BUV496/ BUV737
Violet (405nm) 6 BV421/ BV510/ BV605/ BV650/ BV711/ BV786
Blue (488nm) 2 FITC/ PerCP-Cy5.5
Yellow-Green (561nm) 4 PE/ PE-TR/ PE-Cy5.5/ PE-Cy7
Red (640nm) 3 APC/ AF700/ APC-Cy7

Fee Table

Service Instruments Internal (Hourly) External Academic
(Hourly)
External Corporate
(Hourly)
Flow Analysis
(unaided)
BD FACS Canto II* $30.00 $36.00 $60.00
Flow Analysis
(unaided)
BD Fortessa1, BD Fortessa2, BD Fortessa X20 $40.00 $48.00 $80.00
Flow Analysis
(unaided)
Cytoflex S1, Cytoflex S2, Cytoflex LX* $40.00 $48.00 $80.00
Flow Analysis
(unaided)
Sony ID7000 $50.00 $60.00 $100.00
Cell sorting
(peak hours)
Astrios 1, Astrios2, Astrios3, BD FACS Aria III* $75.00 $90.00 $150.00
Cell sorting
(after hours)
Astrios 1, Astrios2, Astrios3, BD FACS Aria III* $112.50 $135.00 $225.00
Cell sorting
(peak hours)
BD Fusion $90.00 $108.00 $180.00
Cell sorting
(after hours)
BD Fusion $135.00 $162.00 $270.00
Magnetic Cell Separator (unaided) AutoMacs Pro $40.00 $48.00 $80.00
Assisted acquisition, training
(peak hours)
All instruments $75.00 $90.00 $150.00

* Only available at PM site
** Only available at KDT site

Resources

Please visit Resources to see archived news items, previous webinars, and equipment specs via the below link.

Questions?

PM Flow, along with all other UHN Core facilities, can be accessed by any researcher, regardless of organization, through our Customer Management site ( Stratocore PPMS ) here. Create a free account to communicate directly with the facility and submit quotation requests for your work. Please see our brief help documents for Login and Booking .

Scheduling a meeting with us to discuss your research and goals is the best way for us to ensure the optimal technology and equipment is applied to your project. Please contact us for a free consultation by phone at (416) 946-4501 , ext. 5237 (or 16-5237 if calling from within UHN) or by e-mail at: pmflow@uhnresearch.ca

Trained users can book our analyzers online by accessing our Customer Management site Stratocore PPMS. For a detailed guide on how to create a new user account and access PM Flow, please refer to our manual, which you can download here.

Users can book training online by accessing our Customer Management site ( Stratocore PPMS ) here. Sorting appointments can be made by contacting our staff directly by phone at (416) 946-4501 , ext. 5237 (or 16-5237 if calling from within UHN) or by e-mail at: pmflow@uhnresearch.ca.

We are located on the 8th floor of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (office: 8-605) at 610 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5G 2M9.

Our operational and biosafety policies are available to registered users through our Customer Management site ( Stratocore PPMS ) here.

Recent News

Read all about what we've been up to
picture of event poster
February 23, 2024

Using the SONY ID7000 to maximize your cytometry capabilities and workflow

Date and Time: Wednesday, February 21, 2024 11:00 EST
In-person: PMH room 6-604
Description: Can you standardize the ID7000 between users / instruments / longitudinal studies?
Can you utilize your background Autofluorescence as a novel parameter?
Can you avoid creating single stains regardless of a bead or a cell?
What is the benefit of having up to 3x more detectors?

Read details here ▸
picture of event poster
February 05, 2024

Revealing cellular diversity with the power of spectral cytometry

Date and Time: Wednesday, February 14, 2024 8:00 PST | 11:00 EST | 16:00 GMT | 17:00 CET
Speaker: Robert Balderas, Vice President Biological Sciences, BD Biosciences
Description: This webcast will review the principles and concepts of spectral flow cytometry, describe current technology innovations, and showcase some of the exciting discoveries made possible by spectral flow cytometry, while also discussing practical tips and best practices for researchers who want to adopt this technology.

Registration Link ▸
picture of BD Horizon poster
August 10, 2023

BD Horizon NEXT coming to Toronto!

This is the latest version of our groundbreaking Horizon Tour that helped flow cytometry users better grasp panel design principles toward cleaner data generation. This time, our event touches on elements of spectral panel design, deep immunophenotyping and sorting, spectral sorting and imaging with the BD FACSDiscover(TM) S8 as well as some data analysis aspects for high parameter assays.
September 12, 2023, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

Read details here ▸
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