Facility Hours
- Staffed hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
- After-hours access: Available to approved, advanced-trained users (see below)
User Registration & Access
All users must be registered in the iLab system prior to using the Flow Cytometry Core Facility.
- Registration instructions can be found on the Registration Page.
- Instrument access and reservations are managed exclusively through iLab.
Biosafety Requirements
- This facility operates as a BSL-2 laboratory.
- BSL-2 training and compliance with all safety precautions are mandatory for all users.
- Additional information is available on the BSL‑2 Requirements page.
- Users are responsible for ensuring samples are labeled, handled, and transported in accordance with UTMB biosafety policies.
Rates and Fees
| Service | Unassisted Rate | Assisted Rate |
| BioPlex | $54/hour | $95/hour |
| Fortessa | $54/hour | $95/hour |
| Symphony | $54/hour | $95/hour |
| Aria Fusion | N/A | $110/hour |
| Sony SH800 | $80/hour | $110/hour |
| Sony MA900 | $120/hour | N/A |
Additional Equipment & Services
- MidiMACS Magnets: $25/day (set of 2)
- Consultation Services: $65/hour
- BioPlex II Plate Washer: Free
- Data Analysis Workstation: Free
Minimum Charges
Analyzers: 30‑minute minimum charge
This allows sufficient time for instrument startup, calibration, experiment setup, cleaning, and data export.
Sorters: 1‑hour minimum charge
This allows sufficient time for calibration, setup, sample sorting, cleaning, and data export.
Cancellation Policy
- Sorter appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice will incur a flat $70 cancellation fee.
- For cancellations within 24 hours due to extenuating circumstances, users should contact core staff as soon as possible. Fees may be waived at staff discretion.
HIPAA Compliance
- The facility strictly follows UTMB HIPAA guidelines.
- All human patient samples must be fully de-identified.
- Samples must not contain patient names, medical record numbers, or any information that could allow patient identification.
Data Management & Storage
- Use of USB drives or external storage devices is strictly prohibited.
- For assistance with data upload or retrieval, contact core staff.
- Instrument computers store data temporarily:
- Only three months of data is retained.
- Users are solely responsible for ensuring that all data are uploaded to the Flow Core SharePoint archive before deletion from the instruments.