Practical Guide to Sony SH800 Sorter

Sony SH800 Flow Cytometer Sorter: Full Process Operation and Maintenance Guide from Startup to Shutdown

Flow cytometry sorting is an indispensable technology in life sciences and biomedical research. The Sony SH800 series cell sorter, with its innovative microfluidic chip design, intuitive software interface, and stable flow system, has become an important tool for many core facilities and laboratories. However, in order to fully utilize its performance and extend the lifespan of the instrument, operators must strictly follow a standardized set of start-up, calibration, experimentation, and shutdown procedures. This guide will be based on the original factory technical manual and provide users with a complete technical document covering system characteristics, daily inspections, key operating steps, and common precautions.

Chapter 1: System Overview and Core Features

The Sony SH800 sorter is a desktop cell sorting system that uses disposable microfluidic chips. Its design significantly reduces the risk of cross contamination and simplifies daily maintenance. Understanding its hardware composition is the foundation for correct operation.

1.1 Laser and Optical Path System

The instrument comes standard with four solid-state lasers, with wavelengths of:

405 nm

488 nm

561 nm

638 nm

It should be noted that the laser spot is of a single size (1), which means that strict compensation adjustments must be made when using fluorescent dyes with overlapping emission spectra, otherwise it will lead to data parsing errors.

1.2 Detector Configuration

Scattered light detection: Forward scattering (FSC) and backward scattering (BSC, equivalent to traditional lateral scattering SSC), both use 488/17 bandpass filters.

Fluorescence detection: equipped with 6 photomultiplier tubes (PMT), filter combination as follows:

Long pass filter: 639LP, 561LP, 487.5LP, 752LP, 685LP

Bandpass filters: FL1 450/50, FL2 525/50, FL3 600/60, FL4 665/30, FL5 720/60, FL6 785/60

This configuration supports flexible combinations of multi-color experiments.

1.3 Characteristics of Sorting System

Nozzle/chip specifications: We offer three types of microfluidic chips: 70 μ m, 100 μ m, and 130 μ m, which need to be ordered separately.

Sorting method: Supports two-way sorting (two groups of target cells+non sorted cells).

Receiving container: capable of batch sorting or single-cell sorting, supporting test tubes, 6/12/24/48/96/384 well plates, and PCR plates.

Index sorting: For each sedimentation event in the porous plate, its original parameters can be traced back on the scatter plot for subsequent single-cell analysis.

Sorting mode: Built in settings for 8 different purity/yield combinations, including a dedicated single-cell sorting mode.

1.4 Liquid Flow and Gas Path

The instrument is equipped with a power switch and pressure regulator on the back (users are not allowed to make changes on their own). The external compression pump provides a driving air pressure of approximately 6 bar. The sheath liquid tank has a capacity of approximately 2.5 liters per 8 hours of consumption rate, and the waste liquid tank needs to be emptied regularly.

Chapter 2: Physical Inspection Before Startup - Preventing Problems in Advance

Before pressing the power button, the following checks must be completed. These steps are directly related to the stability of liquid flow and the quality of sorting.

2.1 Sheath fluid tank and waste liquid tank

Lift the annular air release valve at the top of the sheath fluid tank to release the residual pressure inside the tank.

Check if the liquid level in the sheath tank is sufficient (consumption rate of approximately 2.5 liters/8 hours). If insufficient, please replace the full can: first disconnect the transparent air pipeline, then disconnect the blue sheath fluid pipeline, and remove the empty can without tilting. When placing the new can, it should also not be tilted and all pipelines should be reconnected.

Confirm that the waste liquid tank inside the liquid flow vehicle is not full. If it is close to the upper limit, please empty it.

2.2 Cleaning of Sorting Room

Open the front door of the sorting room and check for liquid splashing or salt crystallization, especially in the deflection plate area. Cleaning steps:

Wipe the inside of the transparent door, waste collector, black lateral flow sensor window, and large sensor window below the waste collector with dust-free paper soaked in ultrapure water (MilliQ).

Remove the deflection plate, clean it with ultrapure water wipes, then dry and reinstall. When cleaning the white plastic mounting block, be sure to avoid wetting the copper contacts on the back.

2.3 Liquid flow system filter and DI water tank

Open the left flow maintenance door and observe if there are any bubbles inside the sheath fluid filter (d). If there are bubbles, exhaust should be carried out after powering on.

Check if the liquid level of DI water tank (e) is too low. If insufficient, disconnect the liquid pipeline and carefully open the buckle to remove the water tank. Be careful not to let liquid drip into the air filter when unscrewing the bottle cap. After replenishing ultrapure water, put it back in place, close the buckle and reconnect the DI water pipe.