Becton Dickinson (BD) has announced the global commercial launch of the world's first cell analyser featuring breakthrough spectral and real-time cell imaging technologies.
BD says the new FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer will enable more researchers across a wider range of applications to uncover deeper insights and dynamics from cells once invisible in flow cytometry experiments – with increased ease and throughput.
The company’s SpectralFX technology maximises the number of colours that can be used in flow cytometry, allowing scientists to analyse up to 50 or more characteristics of a single cell at one time, with optimal resolution and sensitivity, which is ideal for scientists pursuing novel biomarker discovery. BD CellView image technology enables high-speed fluorescent and label-free imaging of single cells, revealing precise spatial and morphological insights – like the location of a virus or protein within a single cell, or the microscopic interaction between two cells – that can be visually confirmed and analysed in real time.
Combining these technologies, which were first introduced in the BD FACSDiscover S8 Cell Sorter and profiled on the cover of the journal Science, the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer enables scientists to capture more insights per experiment than ever, with exceptional depth, speed and sensitivity.
Additional advancements on the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer are specifically designed to power translational research. Highlights include:
- High-throughput, walkaway automation that enables best-in-class cost-per-insight economics
- New intuitive software workflows that allow for effective management of large datasets, for improved system usability
- Seamless pairing with the industry-leading ecosystem of BD FACSDiscover™ Cell Sorters and BD Reagents
"The BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer signals an exciting step forward for researchers in areas like immuno-oncology that require tools delivering excellent reproducibility and performance, while managing budget constraints," said Rui Gardner, Head of Flow Cytometry Core Facility at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, an early access collaboration site. "Our investigators have already learned so much using this new technology, and we look forward to performing deep immunophenotyping for high-fidelity biomarker discovery to elucidate insights that can advance research and improve human health."
Steve Conly, worldwide president of BD Biosciences, added: "Translational research, in particular, is growing at a rapid pace and the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer combines advanced science with ease of use to empower, like never before, scientists developing the next generation of potentially life-changing therapies. Paired with the BD FACSDiscover S8 Cell Sorter, and alongside our advancements in software, informatics, and reagents, this landmark cell analyser will enable new dimensions of possibilities in one state-of-the-art ecosystem."
New software innovations launching alongside the instrument include the latest version of BD FACSChorus Software, which simplifies workflows on both the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer as well as FACSDiscover S8 Cell Sorter, and the faster, easier-to-use analysis software FlowJo v11.
All three products will be featured at the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry CYTO 2025 event at booth 615 from 31 May – 4 June, in Denver.