Hana

It takes a long time to set up and run a sorting experiment using FACS. The Bio-Techne Hana Cell Sorter and Single Cell Dispenser offers walk-up usability. Start sorting after a short system initialization that takes less than 5 min. Switch samples within a  minute, and give about two minutes for system shutdown. By completing your sorting run in as little as 7 minutes, you’ll get back invaluable time.

I get few viable clones from cells sorting using a FACS machine, making it challenging for downstream screening of desired clones. The Hana platform is microfluidics-based and employs very low pressure (<2 psi) for cell sorting, in contrast to high pressures (30-70 psi) typically used by conventional FACS sorters. High sorting pressure can cause stress, structural damage and even death of cells, leading to poor clonal growth and, potentially, altered biology. The figure on the left shows a comparison of expression levels of cellular stress response genes between cells sorted by  FACS and Hana. Cells sorted with a FACS instrument showed elevated expression of cellular stress response genes such as Ubiquitin C (Ubc), likely owing to high-pressure sorting conditions, suggesting cells undergoing cellular stress. Because the Hana platform uses low pressure, cell viability is contained during sorting.

I use a FACS sorter at our core facility which is in a different building. This is inconvenient and delays often occur, adding uncertainty to my experiment outcomes. The Bio-Techne Hana Cell Sorter and Single Cell Dispenser is an affordable system that’s budget friendly for smaller labs. It’s compact size easily fits into your tissue culture hood for sterile sorting. You can prepare your cells and easily isolate them at the same workstation, enabling full control of your workflow.

I’m concerned about cross contamination as I’m using an instrument shared with others in my lab. Cell sorters and single cell dispensers from Bio-Techne, including the Hana platform, utilize disposable microfluidic cell cartridges. Specifically designed for sterile isolation, each cartridge is a closed system, preventing cross contamination and aerosol formation.

It takes specialized staff to operate and maintain a FACS instrument. How does operating and maintaining the Hana Cell Sorter and Single Cell Dispenser differ? The Hana platform is automated and easy-to-use with fast workflow time with zero to minimal maintenance requirements. It doesn’t require extensive training or specialized expertise to run the instrument. Anyone can run it with a 2-4 hour training!