BD FACSCanto Reference Manual

For In Vitro Diagnostic Use

bdbiosciences.com

Part No. 642241 Rev. A
June 2007

BD FACSCanto

Flow Cytometer

Reference Manual

BD Biosciences

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© 2007, Becton, Dickinson and Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in retrieval systems, or translated into any language or computer language, in any
form or by any means: electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or otherwise, without prior
written permission from BD Biosciences.

The information in this guide is subject to change without notice. BD Biosciences reserves the right to change its
products and services at any time to incorporate the latest technological developments. Although this guide has been
prepared with every precaution to ensure accuracy, BD Biosciences assumes no liability for any errors or omissions,
nor for any damages resulting from the application or use of this information. BD Biosciences welcomes customer
input on corrections and suggestions for improvement.

BD FACSDiva software © Becton, Dickinson and Company. This software is the property of Becton, Dickinson and
Company. Each sale of a stored unit of this software grants the purchaser a nontransferable, nonexclusive, personal
license. This software may not be duplicated, reproduced, or copied in any form or by any means whatsoever, except
as otherwise permitted by law.

BD FACSCanto clinical software © Becton, Dickinson and Company. This software is the property of Becton,
Dickinson and Company. Each sale of a stored unit of this software grants the purchaser a nontransferable,
nonexclusive, personal license. This software may not be duplicated, reproduced, or copied in any form or by any
means whatsoever, except as otherwise permitted by law.

BD, BD logo, and all other trademarks are property of Becton, Dickinson and Company.

Cy™ is a trademark of Amersham Biosciences Corp. Cy™ dyes are subject to proprietary rights of Amersham
Biosciences Corp. and Carnegie Mellon University and are made and sold under license from Amersham Biosciences
Corp. only for research and in vitro diagnostic use. Any other use requires a commercial sublicense from Amersham
Biosciences Corp., 800 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1327, USA.

JDS Uniphase is a trademark of JDS Uniphase, Inc.

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

Sapphire is a trademark and Coherent is a registered trademark of COHERENT, INC.

Teflon is a registered trademark of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

All other company and product names might be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are
associated.

Patents

PerCP: US 4,876,190
APC-Cy7: US 5,714,386

FCC Information

WARNING: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

NOTICE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant
to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, can cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his or her own expense.

Shielded cables must be used with this unit to ensure compliance with the Class A FCC limits.

This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Réglement sur le matériel brouilleur du
Canada.

Notice

BD Biosciences delivers software and workstations that are intended for running the cytometers supplied by
BD Biosciences. It is the responsibility of the buyer/user to ensure that all added electronic files including software
and transport media are virus free. If the workstation is used for Internet access or purposes other than those specified
by BD Biosciences, it is the buyer/user’s responsibility to install and maintain up-to-date virus protection software.
BD Biosciences does not make any warranty with respect to the workstation remaining virus free after installation.
BD Biosciences is not liable for any claims related to or resulting from buyer/user's failure to install and maintain
virus protection.

History

Revision Date Change Made

336928 Rev. A 1/04 Initial release

337969 Rev. A 4/04 Updated for CE IVD release

338619 Rev. A 9/04 Updated for BD FACSDiva software v4.1

343370 Rev. A 9/05 Updated for BD FACSCanto clinical software v2.0 and the Opticon LG2 Imager barcode reader

640801 Rev. A 5/06 Updated for BD FACSDiva software v5.0 and BD FACSCanto clinical software v2.1

642241 Rev. A 6/07 Updated for BD FACSDiva software v6.0

Contents

About This Manual ix

Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x

Technical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi

Chapter 1: Introduction 13

Intended Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

System Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Flow Cytometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Fluidics Cart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Computer Workstation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

BD FACS Loader (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Barcode Reader (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Chapter 2: BD FACS Loader Option 33

Loader Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Using the Loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Changing Operational Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Maintaining the Loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Cleaning External Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

v

Chapter 3: Barcode Reader Option 45

Installing and Using the Barcode Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Cleaning the Barcode Reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Barcode Symbologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

1D Barcode Symbologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

2D Barcode Symbologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Chapter 4: Maintenance 51

Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Emptying the Waste Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Purging the Fluidics Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Decontaminating the Fluidics System (Long Clean) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Replacing the Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Replacing Fluidics Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Unscheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Changing a Cubitainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Removing an Air Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Cleaning External Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Removing Bubbles from the Flow Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Cleaning the Flow Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Purging the Bubble Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Decontaminating the Fluidics System for Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Replacing the Bal Seal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Resetting the Cytometer Circuit Breaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Reconnecting the Ethernet and RS232 Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Reconnecting the Fluidics Cart Tubing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Replacing the Fluidics Level Sensors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Replacing the Fluidics Cart Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

vi BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

Chapter 5: Troubleshooting 95

Cytometer Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Fluidics Cart Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Loader Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Appendix A: Technical Overview 105

Flow Cytometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Fluidics System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Optics System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Light Scatter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Fluorescence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Optical Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Detectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Detector Arrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Spillover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Electronics System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Pulses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Pulse Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Appendix B: Supplies and Replacement Parts 127

Cytometer Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Installation Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Other Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Bar Code Reader Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Consumables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Cytometer Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Reagents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Labware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Contents vii

Appendix C: Technical Specifications 133

Cytometer Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Optics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Fluidics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Signal Processing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Fluidics Cart Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Loader Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Index 141

viii BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

About This Manual

This manual contains reference information about the BD FACSCanto™ flow
cytometer and BD FACS™ Loader. Operating instructions are contained in the
BD FACSCanto Instructions for Use.

Most cytometer functions are controlled by BD FACSCanto™ clinical software
and BD FACSDiva™ software. BD FACSCanto clinical software contains
modules for dedicated clinical applications with automatic gating algorithms,
while BD FACSDiva software is non–application specific. You can use either
software to perform cytometer quality control. Each software package has its
own reference manual, provided on the documentation CD.

BD Biosciences recommends that first-time users of this cytometer take
advantage of operator training offered with the sale of every new cytometer.

The BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual assumes you have a
working knowledge of basic Microsoft® Windows® operation. If you are not
familiar with the Windows operating system, refer to the documentation
provided with your computer.

ix

Conventions

The following tables list conventions used in this manual. Table 1 lists symbols
that are used in this manual or on safety labels to alert you to a potential hazard.
Text and keyboard conventions are shown in Table 2.

Tabl e 1 Hazard symbols

Symbol Meaning

CAUTION: hazard or unsafe practice that could result in material damage,
data loss, minor or severe injury, or death

Electrical danger

Laser radiation

Biological risk

a. Although these symbols appear in color on the cytometer, they are in black and white throughout this

reference manual; their meaning remains unchanged.

Tabl e 2 Text and keyboard conventions

Convention Use

; Tip

NOTICE

Italics Book titles and new or unfamiliar terms

a

Features or hints that can save time or prevent difficulties

Provides information that supplements the topic material

> Menu selection

For example, “select File > Print” means select Print from the File
menu.

Ctrl-X Press the indicated keys simultaneously

For example, Ctrl-P means hold down the Control key while
pressing the letter p.

x BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

Technical Assistance

For technical questions or assistance in solving a problem:

• Read the section of the manual specific to the operation you are
performing.

• See Chapter 5, Troubleshooting.

If additional assistance is required, contact your local BD Biosciences technical
support representative or supplier.

When contacting BD Biosciences, have the following information available:

• product name, part number, and serial number

• software version number

•error messages

• details of system performance

For cytometer support within the US, call [phone].

For support within Canada, call [phone].

Customers outside the US and Canada, contact your local BD representative or
distributor.

About This Manual xi

xii BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

1

Introduction

The BD FACSCanto system uses a fixed-optics design and advanced digital
electronics to support multicolor analysis of up to six fluorescent markers and
two scatter parameters per assay.

The cytometer does not require special facilities—it plugs into a standard wall
outlet, uses air-cooled lasers, and provides its own air pressure and vacuum for
the fluidics and waste. You can prepare samples on the BD FACS™ Sample Prep
Assistant II and import the sample prep worklist.

For further automation, use BD FACSCanto clinical software and the BD FACS
Loader for sample acquisition. Alternatively, use BD FACSDiva software for
more flexibility in acquisition and analysis.

See the following for more information:

• Intended Use on page 14

• System Components on page 14

• System Requirements on page 31

13

Intended Use

The BD FACSCanto system is intended for use as an In Vitro Diagnostic device
for identification and enumeration of lymphocyte subsets in human cells in
suspension for flow cytometry.

System Components

The BD FACSCanto system consists of a benchtop flow cytometer, a self­contained fluidics cart, and the BD FACSCanto workstation.
System options include an automated sample loader and a barcode reader.

For a description of system components, see:

• Flow Cytometer on page 15

• Fluidics Cart on page 25

14 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

• Computer Workstation on page 28

• BD FACS Loader (Optional) on page 28

• Barcode Reader (Optional) on page 30

Flow Cytometer

Cytometer power is controlled by the power button. All other cytometer and
fluidics cart functions are controlled by BD FACSCanto clinical software and
BD FACSDiva software (provided with the cytometer).

flow cell

access door

side door

data ports

optics

access door

sample
injection
tube

power button

fluidics cart

connections

The BD FACSCanto flow cytometer consists of a fluidics subsystem, an optics
subsystem, and an electronics subsystem. For a more in-depth discussion of

Chapter 1: Introduction 15

fluidics, optics, electronics, and flow cytometry, see the Technical Overview on
page 105.

Fluidics

The fluidics system consists of the sample injection tube (SIT), the aspirator arm,
the flow cell, a pressurized interior reservoir, and a network of tubing that
provides sheath and cleaning fluids to and removes waste from the flow cell.

flow cell

tubing

adapter lever

sample
injection
tube (SIT)

tube guide
(Loader option only)

aspirator arm

16 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

aspirator arm bar

The following table briefly describes these components.

flow cell where laser beam intercepts particles

tubing brings sheath and cleaning fluids to and aspirates waste from flow cell

SIT hollow metal tube that brings sample to flow cell

adapter lever lever used to change SIT from manual to automatic loading

aspirator arm movable waste aspiration port

aspirator arm
bar

tube guide helps guide tube onto the SIT (Loader operation only)

metal bar used to push aspirator arm away from SIT during manual
loading

When you install tubes onto the SIT, a pump within the fluidics cart pressurizes
the interior reservoir (plenum), which then provides sheath fluid to the flow cell.
At the same time, the sample tube is pressurized and sample is pushed up the SIT
and into the flow cell.

When you remove tubes from the SIT, the cytometer cleans the SIT by flushing
sheath solution down the inside and outside of the tube. The flushed sheath
solution is aspirated by the aspirator arm.

To activate SIT cleaning, push the aspirator arm all the way to the left when you
manually unload a tube. When you are using the Loader, SIT cleaning occurs
automatically.

Do not leave a tube of distilled water on the SIT between sample tubes, or during
or after daily shutdown.

Chapter 1: Introduction 17

Flow Cell

Once the sample moves into the flow cell, particles move in single file past the
laser beams. The scattered and emitted light from these particles provides
information about their size, shape, granularity, and fluorescence properties.

The flow cell is beneath the flow cell access door. For more information, see
Fluidics System on page 106.

Figure 1-1 Flow cell

where lasers intercept

sample stream

obscuration bar

FSC diode

flow cell

Optics

The optics system in the BD FACSCanto cytometer is composed of both
excitation optics and collection optics. Excitation optics bring light to the flow
cell. Collection optics gather the light signals emitted or scattered by the particles.

Excitation Optics

The excitation optics consist of lasers, fiber optic cables, beam-shaping prisms,
and an achromatic focusing lens, as shown in Figure 1-2 on page 20.

18 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

The BD FACSCanto cytometer uses low-powered air-cooled and solid state lasers
that do not have special power and cooling requirements.

Laser

Coherent® Sapphire™
Solid State

JDS Uniphase™ HeNe
Air Cooled

Wavelength

(nm)

488 (blue) FITC, PE, PerCP,

633 (red) APC, APC-Cy7

Commonly Used Fluorochromes

PerCP-Cy™5.5, PE-Cy™7

Chapter 1: Introduction 19

Fiber optic cables direct the laser light onto beam-shaping prisms, which in turn
transmit the laser light to a focusing lens. The lens directs the laser light onto the
sample stream within the flow cell (Figure 1-2). See also Figure A-3 on page 110.

Figure 1-2 Optical pathway

1

3

2

5

6

interlock flow cell

1

prisms red He-Ne laser

2 5

focusing lens blue solid-state laser

3 6

4

When the flow cell access door opens, an interlock shutters the laser light and
blocks its pathway for safety reasons.

4

20 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

Collection Optics

From the flow cell, laser light is routed to the collection optics, which efficiently
gather the signals emitted and scattered from each particle. The BD FACSCanto
collection optics include two detector arrays, which consist of photomultiplier
tubes (PMTs) arranged in one octagon and one trigon (Figure 1-3).

The octagon contains five PMTs and detects light from the 488-nm (blue) laser.
One PMT in the octagon collects side scatter (SSC) signals.

The trigon contains two PMTs and detects light from the 633-nm (red) laser.

Figure 1-3 Octagon and trigon detector arrays

red-laser

A

585/42

488/10

E

signal

C

B

660/20

trigon

longpass

A

mirror

bandpass
filter

735LP

780/60

C

octagon

PMT

H

F

780/60

735LP

D

502LP

530/30

655LP

670LP

B

556LP

G

blue-laser

signal

Chapter 1: Introduction 21

When light arrives at an array, a longpass mirror (filter) transmits the highest
wavelengths to the first PMT in the series and reflects lower wavelengths to the
next PMT. Similarly, the next PMT’s longpass mirror transmits the next highest
wavelengths and reflect lower wavelengths, and so on around the array. A
bandpass filter (or additional longpass mirror) in front of each PMT further
screens unwanted light.

A

D

B

Fiber

E

In addition to the PMT detectors, a photodiode collects the stronger forward
scatter signals. The obscuration bar prevents excess laser light from entering this
diode (Figure 1-1 on page 18).

For additional descriptions of detector arrays, mirrors, and filters, see Optics
System on page 109.

22 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

At installation, the octagon and trigon arrays have the filter and mirror
combinations shown in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1 Octagon and trigon optical filters

Detector Array

(Laser)

Octagon
(488-nm blue laser)

Trigon
(633-nm red laser)

PMT

Position

A 735 780/60 PE-Cy7

B 655 670 PerCP-Cy5.5 or

C 556 585/42 PE

D 502 530/30 FITC

Eblank

Fblank

Gblank

H— blank

A 735 780/60 APC-Cy7

B blank 660/20 APC

LP Mirror

optical holder

optical holder

optical holder

BP Filter or

LP Mirror

488/10 SSC

blank

optical holder

blank

optical holder

optical holder

Intended Dye

PerCP

—

—

—

Blank optical holders do not contain optical filters. They are used in the octagon
and trigon to prevent unwanted light from interfering with fluorescence signal.

Chapter 1: Introduction 23

Electronics

The electronics system converts optical signals to electronic signals and digitizes
them for computer analysis. The photodiode and PMTs generate signals
proportional to the amount of light they detect. The cytometer’s onboard
electronics amplifies and then converts the signals from continuous voltage
values (analog) into discrete values (digital). Upon amplification and digital
conversion, fluorescent light signals from consistently prepared and stained
particles characteristically fall into certain channels, thus allowing analysis.

On the BD FACSCanto, electronic system components consist of power controls
and connectors along with processing boards in the card cage. This section
describes only the user-accessible power panel. For more information, see
Electronics System on page 120.

Power Panel

Power to the cytometer, lasers, and fluidics cart is supplied by a power cord from
the cytometer plugged directly into a standard electrical outlet. BD recommends
using an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) unit to maintain cytometer power
during a power outage. The system power button turns on the cytometer and
fluidics cart, and powers the lasers (Figure 1-4).

Figure 1-4 Flow cytometer power panel

system AC power

cord plugs in here

system circuit breaker

The system circuit breaker is located next to the AC power cord. The breaker will
need to be reset if there is a power surge in the laboratory.

24 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

system power
button

Fluidics Cart

The fluidics cart provides filtered sheath and cleaning fluids to the cytometer, and
collects system waste products (Figure 1-5). The cart supplies the required air
pressure and vacuum, which eliminates the need for an external source (although
the cart can be hooked up to an in-house air source).

Figure 1-5 Fluidics cart

cubitainer

10-L waste
container

pressure

gauge

door access

knob

filters

Chapter 1: Introduction 25

Containers and Ports

The fluidics cart holds a 10-L waste container, a 20-L BD FACSFlow™
cubitainer, a 5-L BD FACS shutdown solution cubitainer, and a 5-L
BD FACSClean solution cubitainer.

Use the waste container provided with the system; do not substitute other
containers.

Figure 1-6 Fluidics cart containers and ports

BD FACS™ shutdown
solution port and cubitainer

waste port

BD™ FACSClean port and
cubitainer

BD FACSFlow™ port

waste tank

BD FACSFlow cubitainer

Each solution has its own non-interchangeable fluid port and level-sensor
connection. Fluid level alarms occur within BD FACSCanto clinical software and
BD FACSDiva software.

26 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

Controls

The fluidics cart connects to the flow cytometer unit by way of cables and tubing.
When you turn on the power to the cytometer, the fluidics cart powers on also.
Under ordinary circumstances, you do not need to adjust any of the switches on
the cart’s power panel. Leave the auxiliary air supply switch off unless the cart
has been attached to an in-house air supply by BD Biosciences service personnel
(see Table 1-2 for details). Leave the cart circuit breaker on at all times.

Figure 1-7 Fluidics cart panel

auxiliary air supply
switch, off

cart circuit breaker, on

Table 1-2 Auxiliary air supply switch positions

Position Air Source What This Means

Off Cart air The cart is providing its own air

pressure and vacuum.

On House air The cart is hooked up to the

building’s air pressure and vacuum.

Chapter 1: Introduction 27

Powering Off

To turn off the fluidics cart (and the cytometer, as well), press the system power
button. Normally during cart shutdown, you hear a hiss, and a small amount of
condensed water will discharge.

Computer Workstation

The workstation consists of a computer compatible with Microsoft Windows XP
Professional operating system, a flat-screen monitor, and an optional printer.

BD FACS Loader (Optional)

The BD FACS Loader automatically introduces prepared samples to the
cytometer. The Loader is controlled by BD FACSCanto clinical software or
BD FACSDiva software. It can be added to your system at any time. The Loader
consists of:

•a drawer

• a cover

• three optical sensors

• an electronics module

•a tube lifter

• a 40-tube carousel

For more information, see BD FACS Loader Option on page 33.

28 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual

Figure 1-8 BD FACS Loader

Chapter 1: Introduction 29

Barcode Reader (Optional)

The Opticon LG2 Imager is a hand-held barcode reader that plugs into the USB
port on the BD FACSCanto computer workstation. A green light on the top of
the barcode reader indicates that it is connected to the USB port and ready to use.

The barcode reader reads most barcode standards, including Codabar, Code 128,
Code 39 with checksum, and PDF417. It reads information from the BD FACS™
7-color setup beads label into BD FACSCanto clinical software, and also reads
coded patient information into a worklist.

Figure 1-9 Typical barcode reader (example)

ready light

trigger

view from top

For information on installing and using the barcode reader with the
BD FACSCanto, see Installing and Using the Barcode Reader on page 46. For
detailed information including how to program the barcode reader for other
barcode standards, refer to the information supplied by the manufacturer.

30 BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer Reference Manual