Course Details
Overview
This intensive 3-day hands-on training program provides participants with a practical introduction to flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell analysis.
The course covers the full workflow from flow cytometry principles, FSC/SSC interpretation, fluorescence detection, fluorophore and antibody selection, panel design, sample preparation, surface and intracellular staining, compensation, controls, data acquisition, gating strategies, and data interpretation.
Participants will gain both theoretical understanding and practical experience with flow cytometry workflows used in immunology, cancer biology, stem cell research, and biomedical laboratories.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the principles of flow cytometry and fluorescence detection
- Explain FSC, SSC, and fluorescence signal interpretation
- Apply BSL-2 laboratory safety guidelines
- Understand fluorophores, antibodies, and panel design basics
- Prepare samples for flow cytometry analysis
- Perform surface marker staining and controls
- Understand compensation and gating strategies
- Acquire data using a flow cytometer
- Understand intracellular staining and fixation/permeabilization workflows
- Analyze FACS data using software tools
- Interpret cell populations and quantitative readouts
- Troubleshoot common flow cytometry problems
- Understand applications in immunology, cancer, and stem cell research
Target Audience
This course is ideal for:
- Master’s and PhD students
- Research assistants and laboratory technicians
- Immunology, cancer biology, stem cell, and biomedical researchers
- Biotechnology and life science students
- Professionals entering flow cytometry-based research
- Scientists who want to strengthen practical FACS skills
Course Program
Day 1: Fundamentals of Flow Cytometry & Experimental Design
Focus: Principles, instrumentation and sample preparation
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Welcome & Course Overview | Lecture |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Introduction to BSL-2 Guidelines & Laboratory Safety | Lecture |
| 10:30 – 11:15 | Principles of Flow Cytometry: FSC, SSC & Fluorescence Detection | Lecture |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Fluorophores, Antibodies & Panel Design Basics | Lecture |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:30 – 15:00 | Sample Preparation & Cell Staining Workflow | Lab |
| 15:00 – 15:15 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:15 – 16:30 | Hands-on: Surface Marker Staining & Controls | Lab |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Q&A & Wrap-up | Discussion & Q&A |
Day 2: Data Acquisition & Advanced Staining Strategies
Focus: Running samples and multicolor analysis
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Overview Day 2 & Instrument Setup | Q&A |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Compensation, Controls & Gating Strategies | Lecture |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 10:45 – 12:30 | Hands-on: Data Acquisition on Flow Cytometer | Lab |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Intracellular Staining & Fixation/Permeabilization Principles | Lecture + Demo |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Hands-on: Intracellular / Apoptosis Staining | Lab |
| 15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:45 – 16:30 | Troubleshooting Flow Cytometry Experiments | Discussion |
| 16:30 – 17:00 | Wrap-up | Discussion & Q&A |
Day 3: Data Analysis, Interpretation & Applications
Focus: Analysis and biological interpretation
| Time | Activity | Format |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Introduction to FACS Data Analysis Software | Lecture + Demo |
| 09:30 – 11:00 | Hands-on: Gating & Population Analysis | Computer Session |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Coffee Break | |
| 11:15 – 12:30 | Quantitative Analysis & Data Interpretation | Computer Session |
| 12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 13:30 – 14:30 | Applications of Flow Cytometry in Immunology, Cancer & Stem Cell Research | Lecture |
| 14:30 – 15:15 | Experimental Design for Multicolor Panels | Discussion |
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Coffee Break | |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Case Study Discussion & Presentation of Results | Discussion |
| 16:00 – 16:30 | Final Wrap-up, Feedback & Certificates | Q&A |
What Participants Will Gain
Participants will gain:
- Practical understanding of flow cytometry workflows
- Experience with sample preparation and cell staining
- Knowledge of surface marker and intracellular staining strategies
- Understanding of compensation, controls, and gating
- Practical insight into data acquisition and analysis
- Skills in population analysis and biological interpretation
- Troubleshooting strategies for common FACS issues
- Preparation for flow cytometry applications in research and industry
