Published on New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center (https://www.wadsworth.org)

Flow Cytometer Quality Control

Daily flow cytometer quality control requirements:

  • Calibrate and standardize according to the manufacturer's recommendation (software and bead product). 
    • Cellular Immunology Standard CILF-S11, CINM-S6, CIML-S7
  • Stain and analyze a normal blood and/or validated commercial control(s) for Non-malignant Leukocyte Immunophenotyping. 
    • Cellular Immunology Standard CINM-S11

Monthly flow cytometer quality control requirements:

  • Check fluorescence/PMT linearity. 
    • Cellular Immunology Standard CILF-S12, CINM-S7, CIML-S8
  • Stain and analyze a normal blood or validated commercial control for Malignant Leukocyte analysis. 
    • Cellular Immunology Standard CINM-S9

As the manufacturer recommends:

  • Clean system fluidics.
  • Perform preventive maintenance.
  • Verify optical alignment on fixed optical rail flow cytometers.

If an instrument is moved:

  • Verify optical alignment.
  • Calibrate and standardize according to the manufacturer's recommendations for software and bead product. 
    • Cellular Immunology Standard CILF-S11, CINM-S6, CIML-S7
  • Check fluorescence/PMT linearity. 
    • Cellular Immunology Standard CILF-S12, CINM-S7, CIML-S8
  • Stain and analyze a normal blood and/or validated commercial control(s).
  • These guidelines should also be followed when evaluating instrument performance following an instrument repair. Please refer to the Cellular Immunology Checklist[1] on the Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program method approval[2] webpage for instrument validation requirements.