Guava easyCyte 8HT Flow Cytometry System
| Brand | Merck |
|---|---|
| Origin | USA |
| Manufacturer | Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany |
| Product Type | Benchtop Flow Cytometer |
| Laser Configuration | 488 nm Blue Laser + 638 nm Red Laser |
| Fluorescence Channels | 6 (Green, Yellow, Red1, Red2, NIR1, NIR2) + 2 Scatter (FSC, SSC) |
| Detection Optics | High-Transmission Bandpass Filters (e.g., 525/30 nm, 583/26 nm, 692/46 nm, 661/19 nm, 785/70 nm ×2) |
| Sample Format | 96-Well Microplate (Standard ANSI/SLAS), 1.2–1.5 mL Tubes |
| Automation | Integrated 96-Well Plate Autoloader |
| Software | Guava InCyte v3.x (FDA 21 CFR Part 11–Ready, Audit Trail Enabled, GLP/GMP-Compatible Workflow Support) |
Overview
The Guava easyCyte 8HT Flow Cytometry System is a compact, benchtop flow cytometer engineered for high-throughput, multi-parameter analysis of suspension cells and microbeads in life science research laboratories. Utilizing dual-laser excitation—488 nm blue and 638 nm red—the system enables simultaneous detection across eight optical parameters: six fluorescence channels and two light scatter signals (forward scatter, FSC; side scatter, SSC). Its hydrodynamic focusing mechanism ensures precise single-cell interrogation with minimal sample carryover and high event acquisition reproducibility. Designed for routine and advanced cell-based assays—including immunophenotyping, intracellular signaling, cytokine profiling, activation marker quantification, and compound screening—the easyCyte 8HT delivers absolute cell counts without requiring reference beads or volumetric calibration, supporting quantitative, comparative studies under physiologically relevant multiplexed conditions.
Key Features
- Dual-laser architecture (488 nm + 638 nm) enables broad spectral coverage and flexible fluorochrome panel design, including PE, APC, BV421, BV605, Cy5, and near-infrared dyes.
- Six high-sensitivity fluorescence detection channels equipped with precision bandpass filters (e.g., 525/30 nm, 583/26 nm, 692/46 nm, 661/19 nm, 785/70 nm ×2) to minimize spillover and maximize signal resolution.
- Integrated 96-well plate autoloader with programmable aspiration, mixing, and wash cycles—reducing manual handling and enabling unattended overnight runs.
- On-board fluidics control with pressure-driven sample delivery ensures consistent flow rates and low dead-volume sampling (≤5 µL per well).
- Real-time data acquisition at up to 10,000 events/sec with <1% coefficient of variation (CV) for bead-based calibration standards.
- Compliance-ready architecture supporting audit trail logging, user access levels, electronic signatures, and 21 CFR Part 11–compliant workflows via Guava InCyte software.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The easyCyte 8HT accepts standard ANSI/SLAS-compliant 96-well plates (flat-bottom or V-bottom), as well as 1.2–1.5 mL conical tubes for low-throughput validation experiments. It accommodates primary human and murine immune cells, PBMCs, cultured adherent cell lines (after enzymatic detachment), yeast, bacteria (with appropriate size gating), and fluorescently labeled microspheres. The system meets ISO 13485 design controls for IVD-related development use and supports GLP/GMP-aligned experimental documentation through traceable instrument logs and metadata-enriched FCS 3.1 file generation. All optical and fluidic calibrations are traceable to NIST-certified reference materials.
Software & Data Management
Guava InCyte software (v3.x) provides a unified interface for acquisition, compensation, gating, and statistical reporting. Key capabilities include drag-and-drop polygon and rectangle gating, real-time and offline compensation matrix calculation, automated compensation using single-stained controls, heatmap visualization for multidimensional population clustering, and nonlinear curve fitting for IC50/EC50 determination. Data export supports FCS 3.1, CSV, PDF, and Excel formats. The software architecture includes role-based permissions, encrypted database storage, timestamped audit trails for all analysis modifications, and optional integration with LIMS via RESTful API.
Applications
- Leukocyte phenotyping across hematopoietic lineages using multi-color panels (e.g., CD3/CD4/CD8/CD45RA/CD62L/CCR7).
- Phospho-flow analysis of intracellular signaling nodes (e.g., p-ERK, p-Akt, p-STAT) following cytokine or drug stimulation.
- Functional assessment of cytokine production (IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α) via intracellular staining after Brefeldin A treatment.
- Cell viability and apoptosis profiling using Annexin V/PI, 7-AAD, or Caspase-3 probes.
- High-content screening of compound libraries targeting receptor internalization, calcium flux, or mitochondrial membrane potential.
- Quality control of CAR-T or NK cell products, including transduction efficiency, purity, and functional marker expression.
FAQ
Does the easyCyte 8HT support spectral unmixing or AI-based deconvolution?
No—this system relies on conventional filter-based detection and does not incorporate spectral cytometry or computational unmixing algorithms.
Can I upgrade from a 4-color to an 8-color configuration post-purchase?
No—optical configuration is fixed at time of manufacture; channel count and laser options cannot be modified in the field.
Is the autoloader compatible with 384-well plates?
No—only 96-well plates meeting ANSI/SLAS dimensional standards are supported.
What maintenance intervals are recommended for fluidic and optical subsystems?
Daily startup/shutdown procedures, weekly sheath fluid replacement, monthly cleaning of sample probe and waste lines, and annual optical alignment verification by Merck Field Service Engineers.
Does Guava InCyte support batch processing of multiple FCS files with identical gating templates?
Yes—template-based batch analysis is fully supported, including automatic application of saved gates, compensation matrices, and report generation.
