Multicolor Flow Cytometry
Tools
Instrument and fluorochrome selection
We've put together a variety of tools and information to help you design your next multicolor assay.
Use the Fluorescence Spectrum Viewer to choose the right fluorochromes according to the number of colors you'll need in your experiment, the flow cytometer that you're using, and compensation trade-offs.
More choice means more potential for discovery. Empower your panel design with more choices from BD. Look for newly released specificities and color options as we continue our commitment to expanding options for multicolor panel design. Check out the example 
Small sizes lead to big results. As part of our commitment to further enable multicolor flow cytometry, BD is introducing small sizes for many of our flow cytometry reagents. These small sizes allow you to cost-effectively design and optimize multicolor panels as well as verify pilot experiments to fully leverage the power of multicolor flow cytometry. Check out the example human and mouse panels that incorporate our smaller size products.
Choose from our extensive portfolio of high-quality fluorescent-conjugated reagents to build your multicolor panels. The BD Multicolor Antibody Reagents Catalog highlights our fluorescent-conjugated antibodies for flow cytometry and is organized to allow you to easily find the antibodies for your multicolor panels.
Download and print the Fluorochrome Specifications Chart
and the Instrument and Fluorochrome Guide to see which
BD fluorochromes work with the flow cytometers in your lab.
Mouse over the spectrum in the Absorption and Emission Spectra to see the range of emission spectra for each fluorochrome and to read a description of each fluorochrome in the BD Multicolor Flow Cytometry product line.
Read the guidance provided by industry experts.
Selecting Reagents for Multicolor Flow Cytometry, Holden Maecker and Joe Trotter
Abstract: The availability of flow cytometers capable of detecting 6, 8, and more colors has spurred the discovery of new fluorochromes and the development of antibody conjugates to take advantage of these capabilities. However, the complexities of choosing antibody combinations are such that simply using a random combination of fluorochromes for a particular set of antibody specificities is unlikely to provide optimal results. On the other hand, with a bit of forethought, one can usually avoid many rounds of trial and error. The goal of this technical note is to provide some simple guidelines to aid in the selection of reagent panels for multicolor flow cytometry, which should result in more successes than failures.
