The BD FACSCalibur System from BD Biosciences is a Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) consisting of a multiparameter, flexible system suitable for a variety of applications in the areas of cell analysis and cell sorting.
BD Biosciences marketed the first FACS system about 30 years ago and has remained a mainstay in the field. The BD FACSCalibur System is a modular flow cytometry system consisting of a basic three-color laser and software for cell analysis. Virtually every component of the system can be integrated or updated with additional features. Among the most interesting options are a four-color fluorescence capability, aerosol-free cell sorting, and automated sample loading from multiwell plates in addition to standard tubes.
BD Biosciences sells several kinds of analysis software, a primary component of the whole system. I have primarily used the CellQuest software although it is probably best to check with technical assistance at BD Biosciences to learn about the specs of different software packages so that you can find out which one fits your needs. CellQuest is a powerful software package, designed for the Macintosh, allowing both acquisition and analysis of flow cytometry data (in separate files). With intuitive, icon-based palettes this software allows all the plotting and statistics commonly used in flow cytometry data presentations.
So far my experience with the BD FACSCalibur System has been positive, although admittedly I have only used it for relatively simple experiments so far. Nonetheless, I have found the user- interface to be quite intuitive for both the software as well as the hardware. Together they make it easy, even for a beginner, to set-up specific experiments and to perform routine maintenance operations. The one downside with the BD FACSCalibur System is its size. In spite of the fact that the company calls it "benchtop system", the whole apparatus is bigger than other similar machines and takes a whole desk for itself.
Buying a BD FACSCalibur System is a significant, long-term investment. However, its reliability and versatility (that is, its modular design) ensure at the same time that the instrument will match present and future needs.
Dario Coletti, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York