Modify a generic configuration

For the easiest way to enter the correct configuration(s), take one of the generic models that we have entered and modify it.  Start on the opening screen, where you will see the tabs Design protocols and Manage reagents.  If you also see a tab for Instruments, click it.  If you do not, click View. 

A menu will drop down.  Click Instruments.

The Instruments window will appear.  Click New.

An Instrument entry form will appear.  Type a Configuration name.  CytoGenie will fill in the Site.  Go to the Instrument model field and click Add.  (Alternatively, either right click on the Instrument model field or click the double downward arrow.  An options menu will pop up.  Click Choose Model identifier from list.)

The Model identifier pick list will display the most popular flow cytometry machines.  Most modern machines have many possible configurations, with different combinations of lasers, filters and detectors.  If you do not know the details of the configuration(s) of your instrument(s), and few of us do, ask your laboratory administrator or facility manager.

Click to select any configuration that has lasers and optical detectors closest to the one you will use.  Your selection need not be the same model or have the same producer as the instrument you will use. Click Pick.  

 
Your entry form will now display the Instrument model you picked.  Go to the Laser configuration(s) field and click Add.  (Or, activate the Options menu and click Choose Laser configuration from list.)

The Laser configuration(s) pick list will appear.  Hold down the CTRL key and click the lasers that your machine will be using.  Then click Pick.

Your entry form will now display the Laser configuration(s) you picked.  Go to the Colors detected field and click New.  (Or, activate the Options menu and click New Optical detector.)

A confirmation window will appear.  For now, click Yes.

A pick list will appear.  Scroll to find the fluorescent element or color you want.  Click it.  Click Pick.

A small window will appear.  Click an optical filter that matches the instrument configuration you will use.  Click OK.

Your entry form will now display the Optical detector you picked with a red border around the cell in the FCS parameter # column.  Enter the channel number your instrument will use for this detector.  If you don't know the number, get it from your lab administrator or core facility manager. 

Click New to enter your next detector.

The confirmation window will reappear.  This time, click No.

Double-click anywhere in the Laser configuration column.  If no drop-down arrow appears, click here. 

Once the drop-down arrow appears, click it.  A list of wavelengths will drop down.  Click and drag the scroll bar to view them.  The wavelengths you’ve already selected in the Laser configuration(s) grid appear in black.  Click one of them.  Then click the red-bordered cell under FCS parameter #.

Type the channel number that your instrument will use for this detector.  Click New to enter your next detector. 

The confirmation screen will reappear.  Click No again.

The Optical detector(s) grid will now show your new pick and a new row of red-bordered cells.  Click the Downward options arrow.

An options menu will pop up.  Click to remove the checkmark from Edit in place.

Double-click the red-bordered cell in the Laser configuration column.    

An Optical detector(s) entry form will appear.  This is an alternative to Edit in place.  Go to the Laser configuration field and click Pick.

The Laser configuration pick list will appear, displaying in black the wavelengths you previously selected and any others that may still be available to you.  Those not available will be gray.  Click a black entry that corresponds to the laser configuration of your instrment.  Click Pick.    

The Optical detector(s) entry form will now show your Laser configuration.  Go to the Optical filter field and click Pick.

The Filter pick list will appear.  Click a filter that your flow cytometry instrument uses.  Click Pick.

Your Optical detector(s) entry form will now display the Optical filter you picked and fill in the Identifier for you.  Go to the FCS parameter # and type in the channel that your flow cytometry instrument will use for this detector.  Click anywhere on the form to close your entry.  Click Done.

The Optical detector(s) grid will now show your new pick.  Continue clicking New and entering your detectors by either of the methods above.

When you’ve finished your configuration, click and type a name for it.  Go to Instrument software type, click the drop-down arrow, and click on the software your instrument uses.  When you’ve finished, click Done.

Repeat the entire process until you have correctly entered the configurations for all the flow cytometry instruments you intend to use.

CytoGenie also allows you enter a new configuration from scratch. Few users will need to do this.