FCMPASS Installation Requirements


  1. Computer [16GB RAM, quad-core processor]
  2. Flow cytometer with conventional (perpendicular) side scatter collection optics. This software's automated light scatter calibration function does not currently cater for non-conventional collection optics (e.g. Apogee instruments), though custom collection angles can be inputted for manual light scatter calibration.
  3. 6+ NIST-traceable size standards (if performing light scatter calibration). Non-fluorescent, traceable size standards are required for reliable light scatter calibration with the software. This is due to the automated scatter calibration calculating the system collection angle based on specific optical properties of the beads which include diameter and refractive index. Particles with fluorescent properties such as FluoSpheres or MegaMix beads, which lack exact diameter and refractive index assignments, do not produce robust and reliable models for the derivation of collection angle and therefore less suitable as reference materials for reliable diameter calibration.
  4. Fluorescent reference particles (if performing fluorescence calibration). The software can be used with any beads that have assigned reference values e.g. MESF or ERF beads.