Please note that Internet Explorer is incompatible with this site.

We recommend upgrading to the latest Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Firefox.

Skip to Main Content

Core Facilities

Flow Cytometry

Cell Staining by Marisela Agudelo

Surface Staining Protocol

  1. Take 1 x 106 cell suspension, spin down, and discard supernatant.
  2. Add 1mg of Fc block /106 cells and incubate on ice for 5 min.
  3. Add surface staining antibodies or isotype controls of choice and incubate 30 min. on ice.
  4. Wash cells with 2 ml of PBS/2%FCS, spin down, and discard supernatant.
  5. Slowly vortex pellet and add 1 ml of 1% paraformaldehyde.
  6. Wrap samples in foil and store at 4°C.

Titration of Abs and blocking reagents should be performed.


Combination of Surface & Intracellular (Indirect) Staining

  1. Take 1 x 106  cell suspension, spin down, and discard supernatant.
  2. Add 1mg of Fc block /106 cells + *normal serum  incubate on ice for 10 min. Spin down 5 min. at 1200 RPM and discard all liquid.
  3. Do surface staining at this point, add surface staining antibody of choice, then wash cells 1X with PBS/2%FCS, and discard all liquid.
  4. VORTEX before adding Cytofix.
  5. Resuspend cells in 100 ul of Cytofix/Cytoperm solution, VORTEX, and incubate on ice for 20 min.
  6. Wash 2X with 1ml BD Perm/wash buffer (1:10 dilution in water) (1ml/1 x 106)
  7. Add primary antibody of choice and incubate on ice for 30 min.
  8. Wash 1X with 1 ml BD perm/wash
  9. Add Fc block + *normal serum.
  10. Add secondary antibody of choice and incubate on ice for 30 min.
  11. Wash 1X with 1ml of BD perm/wash buffer. Spin down and discard liquid.
  12. Wash cells in 1 ml PBS/2%FCS, spin down, and resuspend in 1 ml PBS/2%FCS.
  13. Wrap and store at 4°C. Analyze as soon as possible (<72hrs)

(*)Blocking serum must be from species where the secondary Ab was originated. Ex: if your 2º Ab is goat anti-mouse IgG, you should use normal goat serum.

Titration of Abs and blocking reagent should be performed.