This annual event is a residential course in Flow Cytometry for both beginners and more advanced users, held at the University of York. It is constructed as a set of three modules which means you can elect to attend the Course from between two to five days, depending on the Modules selected.

The Modules consisted of lectures interspersed with sessions in the laboratory. Instruments from three manufacturers were available for practical work and demonstrations.

Programme

Monday
Module 1 - Basics of Flow Cytometry

09.00     Registration
09.30     Fluorochromes and Fluorescence - Peter O'Toole
10.00     Antibody Labelling and Immunofluorescence - Peter O'Toole
10.25     Coffee Break
10.45     Introduction to the Flow Cytometer: Fluidics, Optics and Lasers - Derek Davies
11.30     Detectors and Signal Processing - Derek Davies
12.15     Practical: System Walk-around
12.45     Lunch 
13.30     Practical: The Flow Cytometers (including Routine Checks of Performance – Amplifier Linearity, Sensitivity)
14.00     Practical : Quality Control in Flow Cytometry using Commercially Available Beads
15.00     Coffee Break
15.30     Multicolour Design and Compensation - Peter O'Toole
16.15     Introduction to Data Analysis - Derek Davies
17.00     End of day   

Tuesday 
Module 1 cont. - Basics of Flow Cytometry

09.15     Practical : Multiparameter Labelling – Fluorescence Compensation (Beads and then Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes – Direct Conjugates – Two and Three Colours – Colour Compensation) - Karen Hogg, Derek Davies
10.45     Coffee Break
11.15     Practical Demonstration continued
13.00     Lunch
13.45     Practical : Linear Analysis and Doublet Discrimination - Using Cell Cycle as Examples - Derek Davies and Peter O'Toole
15.15     Coffee Break and Questions: Optional Session for One-to-one or Group Questions
16.00     End of Module 1

Basic Course ends. Advanced and Full Course continues Wednesday 
Wednesday - Full and Advanced Course Only
Module 2 - Clinical Application
Module 3 - Applications in Cell Biology

09.00     Registration
09.15     Immunophenotyping Leukaemias and Lymphomas - Ricardo Morilla
              Analysis of Micro-organisms and Sub-micron Particles - Gerhard Nebe-von-Caron
10.00     Demonstration : Data Analysis using Infinicyt - Ricardo Morilla
              Receptor Quantification - Peter O'Toole
10.45     Coffee Break and Trade Exhibition
11.15     Demonstration : Immunophenotyping Practical Basics - Ricardo Morilla
              Cell Cycle Analysis: the DNA Histogram - Steve Couzens
12.00     Lymph Node Flow Cytometry: Multi-disciplinary Diagnosis - Gerhard Nebe-von-Caron
              Practical : Studying Bacteria - Steve Couzens
              Practical : Receptor Quantification - Karen Hogg
12.45     Lunch and Trade Exhibition
13.30     Demonstration : Discussion using Listed Data: Immunophenotyping Leukaemia / Lymphoma         
              BrdUrd/anti-BrdUrd Method - Derek Davies
15.00     Measurement of Cell Proliferation: The Dye Dilution method - Andy Filby
15.45     Coffee Break and Exhibition
16.15     Multicolour Fluorescence and Compensation - Derek Davies
17.15    End of day

Thursday  (Full and Advanced Course Only)
Module 2 - Clinical Application
Module 3 - Applications in Cell Biology

09.15     Studying Apoptosis by Flow Cytometry - Derek Davies
10.00     Probes / Stains / Reagents - Peter O'Toole
10.30     Coffee Break
11.00     Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria
              Practical : Measurement of Cell Cycle Parameters using BrdUrd/Anti-BrUrd
11.30     Intracellular Staining (Including Fixation and Permeabilisation)
12.00     Foeto Maternal Haemorrhage and Screening for Hereditary Spherocytosis
              Practical : Apoptosis a) Live/dead, b) Sub-G1 Peak, c) Tunel assay for DNA strand breaks, d) Annexin V labelling,  e) Dye uptake, f) Mitochondrial membrane potential 
12.45     Lunch Break     
13.45     Detection of Minimal Residual Disease - Ruth de Tute
              Practical : Antibody Titration
14.45     Platelet Biology 
              Practical : Dye Dilution
15.15     Coffee Break
15.45     Practical : Platelet Flow Cytometry
              Fluorescent Proteins, FRET and Flow Cytometry  
16.30     Practical : CD34 Counts
              Using Flow Cytometry in Immunological Research
17.30     End of Day

Friday (Full and Advanced Course Only)
Module 2 - Clinical Application
Module 3 - Applications in Cell Biology

09.30     NEQAS - Liam Whitby
              Other Applications of Flow Cytometry - Derek Davies
10.00     Workshop : CD4 Counting    
              Practical: High Speed Cell Sorting
11.00     Coffee Break
11.30     Analysis of Rare Events - Derek Davies
12.00     Data Presentation Guidelines - Derek Davies
12.30     Lunch 
13.15     Imaging Flow Cytometry - Andy Filby
13.45     New Technologies in Imaging and Cytometry - Peter O'Toole
14.30     Coffee and Close