Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more

Mass Cytometry

Facility Team

We offer services to both internal and external users.

For all enquires please email mass.cyto@imm.ox.ac.uk

Internal users can find information on services, training and safety on our intranet

Mass Cytometry, or Cytometry by Time Of Flight (CyTOF), is a technology combining the high throughput single cell analysis with the accuracy of elemental mass spectrometry. The technology is offered in two modes: suspension and imaging.

The suspension mass cytometry gives an advantage of measuring simultaneously over 40 different cellular parameters. Extensive panels of antibodies and probes tagged with rare lanthanide isotopes allow in-depth phenotypic and functional studies of complex cellular systems.

Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) facilitates the usage of the metal-tagged antibodies on tissue slides. Therefore it allows the analysis of tissue with a large panel of antibodies and at the same time preserves the spatial information.

The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework Gold badge for 2024.

This Facility is proud to have achieved a LEAF Gold Award for 2024. 

What we provide

  • in-house tested and validated protocols for several Mass Cytometry applications, including assays for the detection of phosphoproteins, nuclear targets, and cytokines and for size determination
  • a repository of metal-conjugated antibodies
  • several ready-to-use panels for phenotypic and functional studies (25 to 40 markers each)
  • comprehensive training, including sample preparation and operation of the Helios Mass Cytometer

The Facility also provides all reagents for metal conjugation and sample preparation on a cost-recovery basis.

Services

Mass Cytometry Facility

The Mass Cytometry Facility of the MRC WIMM is equipped with a 3rd generation Helios Mass Cytometer and a Hyperion Imaging System.

We do our best to support users in project planning, experimental design, panel design, sample preparation, optimization, data acquisition and data analysis.

How it works

In standard mass cytometry, a cell suspension is introduced into the system and dispersed into a spray of droplets (each containing a single cell). These droplets are then directed into hot plasma where cells are vaporized, atomized and ionized, thus changed into discrete clouds, each consisting of naturally abundant atoms and metal isotopes associated with one single cell.

In the next step, the cloud is stripped of all naturally abundant atoms and a clean cloud of metal isotopes is then segregated and analysed by Time of Flight (TOF).

 Data is recorded by the detector and transformed into FCS files, which are compatible with most Flow Cytometry software.