The Cyto 2013 conference for flow cytometry took place this year in San Diego, California, from May 19–22. Put on by the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry, the conference drew over 1,600 registrants, according to preliminary estimates, compared with 1,521 last year, when the conference was held in Leipzig, Germany. Seventy-two vendors participated in the exhibition, which features providers of flow cytometers and cell sorters and associated reagents and software.

Due to the conference’s specific focus, many companies use the exhibit as a showcase for new products. Sony launched the SP 6800 Spectral Analyzer, a flow cytometer that employs a new approach to spectral profile. The system collects the entire fluorescence of the sample and uses spectral deconvolution algorithms to separate individual spectra versus conventional compensation techniques. This eliminates the need to use filters, increasing ease of use, and enables the use with up to 15 colors with two lasers, according to Sony. In addition, it allows the separation of overlapping fluorochromes and fluorescent proteins, such as GFP FITC+. Also, autofluorescence can be detected without the use of labels in screening applications. Utilizing technology from Sony’s Blu-ray Disc players, the system can also determine position of the cell in the flow cell. The system is now shipping at a price of $350,000.

Becton Dickinson (BD), the largest flow cytometer company, introduced the BD FACSAria Fusion, a fully integrated version of its BD Aria cell sorter with a biosafety cabinet. BD worked with the Baker Company to create the product, which meets the standards for a Class II Type A2 biosafety cabinet. To improve air flow, the FACSAria’s surface is curved and a holding area in the system allows for storage off the bench. In addition, the system has its own Aerosol Management system, independent of the cabinet’s. Fluids are stored underneath and accessed through a pull out drawer. The system is also available without the cabinet.

DVS Sciences introduced the CyTOF 2 Mass Cytometer, a new version of the system that was initially launched in 2008. Sporting an updated look, the system combines flow cytometry and ICP-TOF MS to characterize cells labeled with stable heavy metal isotopes. The new system provides direct analysis of cells using 110 detector channels, compared with 100 in the previous version of the system. The updated system also includes increased accessibility for maintenance, auto tuning and calibration, and faster sample delivery. The company also introduced five MaxPar Panel Kits of metal-conjugated antibodies, which allows for the addition of up to 17 antibodies for use in a single tube for the simultaneous analysis of up to 34 parameters. The company also offers more than 200 metal-conjugated antibodies based on 34 different metals.

Showing a system based on the technology it acquired from Propel Labs (see IBO 10/31/12), Bio-Rad Laboratories displayed the benchtop S3 Cell Sorter, its first cell sorter instrument. Focused on ease of use for common applications, the S3 includes automated alignment and setup. Drop delay calculations and droplet break-off monitoring are also automated. In addition, fluidics are built in and can be changed while the system is running. It features an acquisition rate of up to 100,000 events per second and a sort rate of 30,000 events per second, with a 100 µm nozzle size. The S3 is available with two lasers and four detectors at a price of $149,000 or one laser and two detectors at a price of $119,500.

Handyem announced that it will begin shipping in June the fully qualified version of the HPC-100 Personal Cytometer, a sheathless flow cytometer weighing 15 lb. The system features an optical fiber–based microfluidic flow cell and browser-based software. Starting at $30,000, the system is available with one or two lasers and can measure up to six parameters using four colors. The company told IBO that the system’s portability allows for easy sharing among labs, and its price enables use for dedicated applications in labs that already have flow cytometry systems.

Millipore exhibited two intriguing products. Introduced in January, the company’s SmartFlare RNA Detection Probes detect RNA in live cells without compromising the cells. The reagents, which utilize gold nanoparticles, require only one incubation step and can be detected using flow cytometry, imaging cytometry, fluorescence microscopy or cell sorting. Applications include the dynamic tracking of RNA in live cells over time. Unchanged by the reagents, the live cells are available for use in other experiments. The company currently offers 360 targets, with more expected to be introduced this year.

Millipore also displayed the CellASIC Onix Microfluidic Perfusion System, a microfluidic cell culture platform, and introduced a micro-environment control unit for use with the System. The Onix System utilizes a microfluidic chip attached to the back of a microwell plate that introduces media and drug compounds into live cells, which are monitored using fluorescent microscopy. The chip is designed to mimic flow characteristics of a tissue. The system was initially introduced in 2009, and Millipore acquired CellASIC last year. The micro-environmental control unit enables use in low oxygen environments. Plates are based on application, with seven plates currently available.

Bay bioscience showcased its JSAN JR Swift, which is designed to be a smaller, more affordable cell sorter. The compact, 28 x 28 x 25 in. cell sorter can detect up to six fluorescent signals. The cell sorter’s software monitors and controls droplet parameters. Two features to improve ease of use are removal of the flow cell unit and the laser’s ability to be re-centered with one knob turn. The optional CloneMate device allows single or multiple cells to be sorted in each well in a microtiter plate. The cell sorter began shipping in September 2012.

Molecular Devices displayed SpectraMax i3 Multi-Mode Detection Platform, which was introduced earlier this year. It is designed for integration with the SpectraMax MiniMax Imaging Cytometer, which offers brightfield and fluorescence microscopy and is sold with the plate reader or as an upgrade. The Platform features top and bottom reads and luminescence, absorbance and fluorescence detection. The Cytometer can provide quality control of cells or the ability to do two assays simultaneously. Specific supported assays are cell count, cell proliferation and marker expression.

For clinical flow cytometry, Beckman Coulter previewed the Aquios CL flow cytometer, which is based on the system the company gained through its acquisition of Blue Ocean Biomedical (see IBO 3/31/12). Designed to simplify and automate routine clinical flow cytometry assays, the system reduces the number of hands-on steps, and simultaneously analyzes and prepares samples. The system can process up to 40 blood tubes. Run time is 20 minutes for the first sample and every two minutes thereafter. CE compliance is pending, as is FDA submission and clearance.

IBO also checked in with other companies that have recently made acquisitions. Neither BD nor Miltenyi Biotec have introduced new products yet related to their respective acquisitions of Sirigen (see IBO 8/31/12) and Owl biomedical (see IBO 4/30/13).

Among the conference’s presentations was a talk by Vera Donnenberg, PhD, of the University of Pittsburg’s McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine entitled “Phenotypic and Genomic Pedigree of Breast Cancer Cell Subsets.” She described the use of single-cell analysis and phenotypic flow cytometry profiles to investigate cancer tissue differentiation and metastatic tumors. Among the conclusions was that the tumorigenicity of circulating tumor cells may depend on the epithelial mesenchymal transition phenotype. Cyto 2014 will take place May 17–21, 2014, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.