BD FACSCelesta Flow Cytometer

Questions and Answers

L
Laura BriggsSep 14, 2025
What to do if my cytometer power is off for BD FACSCelesta Flow Cytometer?
- D
  dean13Sep 14, 2025
  If your cytometer power is off for BD Measuring Instruments: * Turn on the cytometer main power. * If there is a communication failure between workstation and cytometer: 1. In BD FACSDiva software, select Cytometer > Connect. 2. If connecting does not work, restart the cytometer. Turn the cytometer off, wait 1 minute, and turn on the cytometer main power. 3. If connecting still does not work, contact BD Biosciences.
J
Jordan SharpSep 16, 2025
Why is there no signal in red laser channels when red laser is installed on BD Measuring Instruments?
- D
  Dale ConleySep 16, 2025
  If there is no signal in red laser channels when the red laser is installed on your BD Measuring Instruments, it might be due to: * Incorrect laser delays because of a change in the sheath tank fluid level: Check the fluid level in the sheath tank and refill if necessary.
C
Christina Watson MDNov 20, 2025
What to do if there are no events in acquisition display and RUN button is orange on my BD Measuring Instruments?
- J
  Jonathan LucasNov 20, 2025
  If there are no events displayed and the RUN button is orange on your BD Measuring Instruments, consider the following: * RUN is not activated: Press the RUN button. * Sample tube is not installed or is not properly seated: Install the sample tube correctly on the SIP. * Sample tube is cracked: Replace the sample tube. * Waste tubing line is disconnected: Connect the waste tubing line to the waste container tank. * Sheath container is not pressurized: Ensure that the sheath container lid and all connectors are securely seated. Inspect the sheath container O-ring inside the lid and replace it if necessary. * Bal seal is worn: Replace the Bal seal. * Air leak at sheath container: Ensure that the sheath container lid and all connectors are securely seated. * Sheath container ...
D
David HortonDec 1, 2025
What causes high CV or poor QC in BD FACSCelesta Flow Cytometer Measuring Instruments?
- J
  Juan SmithDec 1, 2025
  High CV or poor QC in BD Measuring Instruments can be due to: * Air bubble in sheath filter or flow cell: Purge the filter. Prime the fluidics system. * Sample flow rate is set too high: Set the sample flow rate lower. * Air leak at sheath container: Ensure that the sheath container lid is tight and all connectors are secure. * Flow cell is dirty: Flush the system. * Waste tank is pressurized: Replace the waste container cap. * Poor sample preparation: Repeat sample preparation. * Sample was not diluted in the same fluid as the sheath fluid: Dilute the sample in the same fluid as you are using for sheath. * Old or contaminated QC particles: Make new QC samples and perform the quality control procedure again. * Instrument is not warmed up: Wait 30 minutes for the instrume...

Summary

About this guide

What this guide covers

Describes the procedures necessary to operate and maintain the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer and software features.

Conventions

Lists the safety symbols used in this guide to alert users to potential hazards.

About the BD FACSCelesta documentation

Describes the documentation available with the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer, including publication formats and help system.

Instrument technical support

Provides information on how to contact BD Biosciences customer support for technical assistance.

Introduction

System overview

Provides an overview of the BD FACSCelesta system, including the cytometer, software, and optional components.

Cytometer overview

Describes the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer as an air-cooled multi-laser benchtop instrument.

Control panel

Details the components and functions of the cytometer's control panel, including system indicators and buttons.

Fluidics system

Explains how the fluidics system carries the sample to the interrogation region and its system indicators.

Sheath and waste containers

Describes the sheath and waste containers, their capacities, and alarm conditions.

Optics

Describes the optical components of the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer, including detector arrays and laser options.

Workstation

Describes the components of the BD FACSCelesta workstation, including the PC, software, and monitors.

Cytometer setup

Starting the cytometer and computer

Provides step-by-step instructions for powering on and starting the BD FACSCelesta cytometer and associated computer.

Preparing the sheath container

Details the procedure for preparing the sheath container, including checking fluid levels and connections.

Removing air bubbles

Explains how to remove trapped air bubbles from the sheath filter and sheath line to ensure accurate data.

Preparing the waste container

Describes how to prepare the waste container, including preventing overflow and handling biohazardous materials.

Priming the fluidics

Details the procedure for priming the fluidics system to remove air bubbles and debris from the flow cell.

About the optical filters and mirrors

Provides a description of the optical filters and mirrors used in the BD FACSCelesta detector arrays.

Custom configurations and baselines

Explains how to create custom configurations and define baselines for performance checks.

Maintenance

Maintenance overview

Provides an overview of routine maintenance and cleaning procedures for the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer.

Cleaning the fluidics

Details the daily fluidics cleaning procedure to prevent clogging and remove residual dyes.

Shutting down the cytometer

Provides instructions on how to properly shut down the BD FACSCelesta cytometer, including performing daily cleaning.

Flushing the system

Describes how to perform an overall fluidics cleaning to remove debris and contaminants from system tubing.

Replacing the waste container cap

Details the monthly procedure for replacing the waste container cap to maintain system integrity.

Changing the sheath filter

Explains how to change the sheath filter, recommended every six months for optimal performance.

Changing the Bal seal

Provides instructions on how to replace the Bal seal, which ensures proper sample tube pressurization.

Changing the sample tube O-ring

Details the procedure for replacing the sample tube O-ring to ensure proper droplet containment vacuum function.

Cleaning or replacing the sheath gasket

Describes how to clean or replace the gasket on the sheath tank lid when needed.

Optimizing cytometer settings

Cytometer settings workflow

Outlines the workflow for optimizing cytometer settings using Cytometer Setup and Tracking and Application Settings.

Verifying the configuration and user preferences

Explains how to verify the cytometer configuration and user preferences before creating an experiment.

Running a performance check

Details how to run a performance check as part of quality control to monitor instrument performance.

Setting up an experiment

Guides users through creating a new experiment, specifying parameters, and adding compensation tubes.

Creating application settings

Describes how to create application settings for consistent and reproducible use of cytometer settings.

Recording compensation controls

Explains how to create and record compensation controls using the Compensation Setup feature.

Calculating compensation

Provides instructions on how to calculate compensation after recording data for single-stained controls.

Recording and analyzing data

Data recording and analysis workflow

Outlines the basic acquisition and analysis tasks using BD FACSDiva software for recording and analyzing data.

Preparing the workspace

Details how to prepare the workspace and apply application settings to an experiment before recording data.

Recording data

Provides an example of how to preview and record data for multiple samples on the cytometer.

Analyzing data

Explains how to analyze recorded tubes by creating plots, gates, and statistics views on a new worksheet.

Reusing an analysis

Describes how to use global worksheets to apply the same analysis to a series of recorded tubes.

Technical overview

About fluidics

Describes the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer fluidics system, including hydrodynamic focusing.

About optics

Describes the optics system, including lasers, optical filters, and detectors, and their functions.

About electronics

Describes the electronics in the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer, including pulse processing and digital data handling.

Troubleshooting

Cytometer troubleshooting

Lists possible problems and recommended solutions for common BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer issues.

Electronics troubleshooting

Provides possible causes and recommended solutions for BD FACSCelesta electronics-related issues.

Detector array configurations

Fluorescence spectra

Shows sample emission spectra from common fluorochromes and laser excitation lines for multicolor panel design.

About configuration maps

Describes the filter and mirror arrangements in the detector arrays for different configurations.

About the configuration

Details the configuration options available for the BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer, supporting up to three lasers.

Base configuration polygon maps

Describes how filters and mirrors are arranged for standard polygon configurations.

Supplies and consumables

Ordering information

Provides contact information for ordering spare parts and consumables from BD Biosciences.

Beads

Lists the available QC and CS&T beads, including particle type, laser, supplier, and catalog number.

Reagents

Lists available reagents such as sheath fluid, cleaning solutions, and antibodies with their catalog numbers.

Equipment

Lists essential equipment items like Bal seal, O-ring, and sheath filter assembly with supplier and catalog numbers.

BD FACSCelesta Flow Cytometer Specifications

General

Type	Flow Cytometer
Data Acquisition Rate	Up to 35, 000 events per second
Software	BD FACSDiva Software
Laser Configuration	blue (488 nm), red (640 nm), violet (405 nm)
Sample Volume	Variable sample volume