No, this is not a call for Geeks to take over the world – just a tiny part of it – the part that ensures success in all experiments or at least a good way to analyze them if they fail.
There are all too many entry points for error and variability that can be introduced into experimental measurements – and it’s critical to control those points. This is especially true in Flow Cytometry where there are multiple controls essential for proper interpretation of the data.
Flow cytometry controls can be divided into 5 major classes. The purpose of these controls to ensure the instrument is performing properly, that compensation is correctly set, that appropriate gates can be drawn and the correct interpretation of your data is possible.
- Instrument controls
- Compensation controls
- Gating controls
- Non-specific binding controls
- Experimental controls
- Are all these controls really needed?
References
- Hulspas et al. (2009) Considerations for the control of background fluorescence in clinical flow cytometry. Cytometry B. 76B:355-364.