Derive greater insights and unlock new discoveries with spectral and real-time image-enabled spectral sorting
The BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter with BD SpectralFX™ Technology and BD CellView™ Image Technology is the first cell sorter that combines spectral flow cytometry with sort-capable real-time imaging. It's hardware design, optimized for full-spectrum optical detection, coupled with a system-aware unmixing algorithm, maximizes the color palette available for flow cytometry and ensures optimal spectral resolution and sensitivity. The real-time integration of image and flow cytometry data allows visualization and confirmation of cell types in real time before cell sorting. This ability to combine spectral flow cytometry and real-time spatial and morphological insights empowers researchers to tackle previously unanswerable questions.
Learn more from the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter brochure.
Take a Tour of the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter
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Full spectrum optics with expanded spectral panel flexibility:
Take advantage of the modular optical architecture with 5 lasers and 78 detectors that enable flexible panel design using an expanded palette of colors for high-parameter experiments. -
High-speed sorting with real-time imaging for better quality data:
Confident and efficient sorting with real-time visualization of cell populations. Visually confirm cell populations and cell characteristics in real time, uncover heterogeneous populations and assess intercellular dynamics to ensure higher confidence in data quality and save time and resources. -
Streamlined productivity:
Streamline operation while maximizing sample utilization with automated stream setup and six-way sorting. -
Ease of use with BD FACSChorus™ Software:
Simplify complex workflows and reduce setup time with comprehensive QC and setup covering all lasers and detectors and step-by-step guided workflows.
Designed with Safety in Mind
We have partnered with The Baker Company to design a custom biosafety and sorting solution. Our solution is comprehensive and keeps your cell sorting activities running smoothly and safely, so you can focus on your research.
BD CellView™ Image Technology
BD CellView™ Image Technology amplifies the power of cell sorting and analysis through real-time integration of image and flow data. This enables accurate identification of cell characteristics before sorting, visual confirmation of signal localization and cellular interactions, enabling exploration of novel and unique biological questions and providing higher confidence in data quality.
BD SpectralFX™ Technology
BD SpectralFX™ Technology combines full spectrum optical detection, optimized hardware and system-aware unmixing algorithm to manage spillover spreading in real time. The modular optical architecture that includes 5 lasers and 78 detectors facilitate a more flexible panel design using an expanded palette of colors for high-parameter experiments.
BD FACSChorus™ Software
BD FACSChorus™ Software provides an intuitive interface and a comprehensive solution for instrument setup, quality control and data acquisition. Its system-aware unmixing algorithm simplifies creating unmixing matrices and streamlines experiments with flexible controls, extraction of multiple autofluorescent populations and post-acquisition reunmixing.
BD® Research Cloud (BD RC)
BD RC is an ecosystem that helps you organize your projects, gain visibility and control of your experiments, or quickly and easily collaborate with your colleagues. A key component of this ecosystem, the innovative BD® Spectral Hotspot Matrix, helps predict the unmixing-dependent spread for each fluorochrome in a spectral panel, ensuring optimal performance without guesswork.
FlowJo™ Software
FlowJo™ Software, the premier platform for single-cell flow cytometry analysis, offers a rich, user-friendly, versatile and extensible analysis environment. FlowJo™ v11 Software features intuitive navigation, enhanced algorithm speed for quicker analysis and built-in features for added workflow efficiency.
Explore our collection of webinars showcasing the FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter in action, along with how-to videos that highlight its key features, and publications where it has been instrumental in driving new scientific insights.
Watch this webinar to learn how the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter:
- Combines advanced spectral flow cytometry, cell sorting and imaging capabilities
- Improves the quality of sorted samples for downstream assays
- Allows you to obtain insights into biological questions that were previously unanswerable
From real-time imaging cell sorting to single-nuclei transcriptomics
Find out how scientists at the Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie (VIB) in Belgium use the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter to sort protoplasts based on their image features and improve the quality of downstream processes
This webinar introduces the BD CellView™ Image Technology that powers the real-time imaging capability of the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter. Watch this webinar to learn how you can:
- Gate and sort with quantitative image features
- Apply those image features for different applications to measure the relative location of fluorescence signals and track morphological changes in cell populations
Setting up ROA and Pixel Threshold
This how-to video provides a detailed walkthrough and practical tips on setting the region of analysis (ROA) and adjusting the pixel threshold on the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter. The video demonstrates how to adjust gains and select imaging features, using various sample controls to enhance side scatter signals and fluorescence markers.
Optimizing Image Wall Settings
This how-to video is a detailed guide for adjusting image wall settings to enhance the visualization of cell samples on the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter. Techniques such as adjusting gamma to reduce background noise, selecting appropriate color channels for different stains, and managing light loss to improve image clarity are discussed. The video also explores the use of histograms to analyze the distribution of fluorescence in cell populations, helping you understand how to effectively present multiple color fluorescence without overwhelming the visual field.
Highlighted Publications
- Pretto S, Yu Q, Bourdely P, Cafarello ST, Van Acker HH, Verelst J., et al. A functional single-cell metabolic survey identifies Elovl1 as a target to enhance CD8+ T cell fitness in solid tumours. 2025; Nat Metab 7, 508–530. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-025-01233-w
- Pae J, Schwan N, Ottino-Loffler B, DeWitt WS, Garg A, et al., Transient silencing of hypermutation preserves B cell affinity during clonal bursting. Nature. 2025; 641, 486–494. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08687-8
- Sun J, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Hu L, Zhao L, et al., Metabolic regulator LKB1 controls adipose tissue ILC2 PD-1 expression and mitochondrial homeostasis to prevent insulin resistance. Immunity. 2024; 57(6):1289-1305. 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.04.024
- Livkisa D, Chang TZ, Burouf G, Czosseck A, Le NTN, et al., Biomaterials. 2024; 306: 122502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122502
- Kornienko J, Rodriguez-Martinez M, Fenzl K, Hinze F, Schraivogel D, et al. Mislocalization of pathogenic RBM20 variants in dilated cardiomyopathy is caused by loss-of-interaction with Transportin-3. Nature comm. 2023;14 (4312). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39965-6
- Scharivogel D, Kuhn TM, Rauscher B, Rodriguez-Martinez M, Paulsen M, et al. High-speed imaging fluorescence-enabled cell sorting. Science. 2022;375(6578):315-320. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abj3013
- Filby A and Carpenter AE. A new image for cell sorting. N Engl J Med. 2022; 386;18.1755-1758. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcibr2200971
Training Materials
Take advantage of the variety of training options and resources available for BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter.
Training options include self-paced e-learning courses that you can use to learn on your own or hands-on instructor-led training options offered by BD Biosciences. Several product resources are also available to suit all your training needs.
Explore all the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter training options.
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