FDA-cleared flow cytometer, 6/15

June 2015—Beckman Coulter’s automated Aquios CL Flow Cytometer has received FDA clearance for use in the clinical laboratory. With its small footprint and high precision, the “load and go” instrument has been designed for the Lean laboratory. With integrated automated sample preparation, Aquios CL Flow Cytometer delivers first results within 20 minutes for routine applications such as immunophenotyping. Subsequent results are available at a rate of 25 samples per hour for up to a full 96-well plate. Once samples are loaded, the instrument automatically carries out mixing, cap piercing, sample preparation, and analysis.

The fully integrated system includes a 40-tube capacity autoloader able to handle a variety of tube sizes, with continuous random loading and unloading, and a separate single-tube loader for stat samples. Sample preparation, reagent monitoring, barcode scanning, and LIS connectivity are all automated. Its Smart Track reagent monitoring system tracks reagent use and test progress; barcode tracking eliminates manual quality control and reagent logs. If the QC fails, the system automatically alerts the operator by text message or email.

The first tests available are Tetra-1 (CD45/4/8/3), Tetra-2+ (CD45/ 56+16/19/3), and Tetra Combo (Tetra-1 and -2+) for immune status monitoring. For the Tetra application, the first result is available in approximately 20 minutes from loading (measured with Tetra-1 or Tetra-2+) with subsequent results delivered at the rate of 25 samples per hour, for up to a full 96-well plate (measured with Tetra Combo).

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, 317-808-4200