Onboarding & Scheduling

Do you need Flow Cytometry Analysis, Cell sorting, or both?

• Analysis results in data recorded by acquisition software.
• Cell sorting gives you cells separated into pure populations and all the data acquired during sorting.

All scheduling, training requests, and services are made through an online portal, PPMS. To log onto the PPMS, point your browser to https://ppms.us/yale/start/. Your Yale NetID and password will serve as your account credentials. (Download a short guide to this intuitive login.) Please confirm your lab affiliation (“group”) and charging instructions. We also recommend that you check that your permissions for instrument access are correct. In most cases, details about your account may pre-populate, but new users and those without affiliated COAs will need to wait for the business office to approve the COAs you list before your account is functional. There might therefore be a short delay after your account creation before you can book equipment with this system. Once your account is functional, you will be able to book instruments and review reservations with a much more sophisticated interface.

The Yale Flow Cytometry Facility is located on the 6th and 5th floors of TAC, at Amistad and 300 George Street buildings. The flow cytometry analyzers may be independently operated once users have undergone training. Trainings sessions can be requested in PPMS and will be coordinated through Diane Trotta.

To log onto the PPMS scheduling online portal, point your browser to https://ppms.us/yale/start/. Your Yale NetID and password will serve as your account credentials. (Download a short guide to this intuitive login.)

• Please confirm your lab affiliation (“group”) and charging instructions. We also recommend that you check that your permissions for instrument access are correct.
• In most cases, details about your account may pre-populate, but new users and those without affiliated COAs will need to wait for the business office to approve the COAs you list before your account is functional. There might therefore be a short delay after your account creation before you can book equipment with this system.

Once your account is functional, you will be able to book instruments and review reservations with a sophisticated interface.

• A single person cannot sign up for more than 8 hours per week of "prime time" on the cytometers (i.e. no more than 8 hours total). Prime time is Monday-Friday 12N-6PM. An unlimited amount of time may be reserved out of "prime time." No more than 4 hours of "prime time" should be reserved in any single block. If more than 4 hours of time is needed, individuals are encouraged to sign up so as to start before "prime time" or end after it, or use the weekend time. Please contact Diane Trotta if your experiment requires more than the allotted four hours of prime time per day for special permission.
• Users will be charged for the greater of time scheduled or actual time used on the cytometers.
• There is 24/7 access (no key required) to the Flow Analyzers in TAC and in Amistad Room 105. Card reader access is required for the 300 George St. Room 2320H (Symphony B)

Cell Sorting is performed mostly by facility staff. First time sort users are required to fill out a biosafety questionnaire along with the experimental information in their PPMS sort request to ensure the experiment is compatible with the selected sorter. This includes experimental design e.g. the fluorochromes being used, diagrams of the cell populations, amount of sorted material expected, and sorting regions desired. Sorting availability and scheduling can be booked using PPMS and may require VPN connection for off-campus access.

Users are able cancel their sort time online. In case of delay or cancellation, notify cell sorter facility personnel as soon as possible by phone or e-mail. Users who cancel their sort less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time will be charged for their entire scheduled sort time.

• You must have a brief discussion with cell sorter operators about your experimental design (e.g. the fluorochromes being used, diagrams of the cell populations, amount of sorted material expected, and sorting regions desired). If you do not, your appointment may be canceled without notice. This is required to optimize the usage and set-up of the cell sorters.
• In case of delay or cancellation, notify cell sorter facility personnel as soon as possible by phone or e-mail.
• Users who cancel their sort less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time will be charged for their entire scheduled sort time.
• Individuals who cancel sorts with < 24 hrs notice on two occasions will not be able to reserve or use the machine for two weeks and if they repeat after this, they will forfeit the right to reserve or use the sorters.
• Anyone can fill cancellations at any time without these restrictions being in effect.
• If the above prevents you from doing an experiment and you need an exception, please contact Flow Cytometry Facility Director Dr. Ann Haberman.

Users with advanced flow cytometry backgrounds may be trained to conduct their own independent sorting experiments on the SONY SH800. For additional information and to schedule a training session please contact Zhao.Zhao@yale.edu.