Getting started

New users with uOttawa email accounts (Not PI):

Use the link below for uOttawa email accounts and follow the prompts to register for an account.
Select the PI/Lab to request access – this is the lab of your supervisor.
Select the Facility you wish to request access.

The uOttawa FCV core facility is set to automatically approve email accounts from the uottawa.ca domain. At this point, you should be able to see all instrument calendars, but you will only be able to make Training and Core Facility Acquisition (Fee-Per-Service) bookings.

New users (Non-uOttawa, Not PI):

Use the link below for non-uOttawa accounts and follow the prompts to register for an account. Please use an institutional account.
Select the PI/Lab to request access – this is the lab of your supervisor. If your lab does not exist in the options, you will need to contact the core facility to proceed.
Select the Facility you wish to request access.

The core facility will be notified by email to approve of your request. Some institutions, such as OHRI, are on automatic approval for facility access. Once the facility and your PI approves of your request, you should be able to see all instrument calendars, but you will only be able to make Training and Core Facility Acquisition (Fee-Per-Service) bookings.

Infinity Idea Elan

New users (PI):

If you are a new PI, you will need to contact the institutional admin to enter your lab into the system first.

Access to Flow Cytometry & Virometry Core Facility

To add our facility onto your Infinity Idea Elan Homepage, navigate to the 9-square grid icon on the top right of the page -> choose Facilities -> search for Flow Cytometry & Virometry. Approval should be automatically granted for users with uOttawa email accounts.

Using the instruments:

Note: Auto-Usage Tracker (AUT) password needs to be changed before the first use. To change/reset the AUT password log in to Infinity (see above) --> My Homepage --> My Profile --> Change AUT Password.

For Cytoflex

Login to Windows
Wait until the Idea Elan Infinity AUT screen appears. This can take up to ~ 1min
Login using your Infinity Idea ELAN username and AUT password
Select the booking you have made on the left side of the Infinity screen to start your session.
If you wish to make a walk-up session you can do so on the Infinity login window at the cytometer computer.
To sign out after your session, log out of Infinity

For Fortess, Celesta, Cytoflex, SH800, & Aurora

Login to the computer workstation using your uOttawa Faculty of Medicine credentials.
- username is the first part of your uottawa email address only
- password is your Faculty of Medicine uOttawa password (if not synchronized)
Wait until the Idea Elan Infinity AUT screen appears. This can take up to ~ 1min
Login using your Infinity Idea ELAN username and AUT password
- username = complete uottawa email
- note - AUT password is not the same as what is used for Infinity login. First time login to AUT requires reset of AUT password under "My Profile"
Select the booking you have made on the left side of the Infinity screen to start your session.
If you wish to make a walk-up session you can do so on the Infinity login window at the cytometer computer.
To sign out after your session, log out of Infinity. This should automatically log out of the computer workstation. If you cannot see the logout screen, hold down ALT+TAB.

User must book all usage on the FCV online scheduler
Usage charges are based on the amount of time logged or booked time, whichever is greater
User has permission from their supervisor to use the facility and are responsible for all charges incurred
No unauthorized physical adjustments are to be made to any of the instruments
All users must be authorized for usage on individual instruments by the facility staff
It is the user’s duty to report to the facility staff any unusual instrument behaviour as soon as it is noticed
User must leave the instrument and facility in good working order which involves:
1. Following cleaning protocol as outlined by the facility for each instrument
2. Emptying of waste from the instruments
3. Refill of sheath fluid
4. Disposal of used gloves, tubes, and other trash
User is responsible for damages due to negligence and misuse of instruments

Data cannot be store on the hard drives of computers connected to flow cytometers.All acquired data must be exported to the network drive (Research Drive).The facility reserves the right to delete all FCS files from hard drives of flow cytometry acquisition computers without warning.

Data must be exported directly to the network drive (Research Drive). No USB keys or mass storage devices are to be used directly on instrument acquisition computers.

The facility is not responsible for data stored on the network drive (Researve Drive).It is the responsibility of the User to back up their own data.

Flow Cytometry Users folder on the network drive is to be used for the transfer and storage of raw flow cytometry data and analysis files only. Storage of other files is not permitted and the FCV facility reserves to right to remove any non-flow cytometry related files from this folder.

All potential users who are interested in running their own samples are required to go through training by University of Ottawa FCV Core Facility staff prior to receiving access to the facility. Our training seminar course in flow cytometry can also be provided to FCV Core Facility non-users. However, hands-on training on our instruments is only provided to FCV facility users.

All new users must first complete our training seminar and the online assessment before proceeding to hands-on training sessions on the cytometer. Users with prior flow cytometry experience, please contact the core facility.

New users training & seminar:

All new users (Core Facility Acquisition users exempt) are required to attend the Introduction to Flow Cytometry Seminar/Webinar. To register refer to Infinity Idea Elan under Getting Started menu. Once you have logged into Infinity, follow the instructions below:

User Options: select Schedule Instruments
On the “Seminars” calendar, locate the upcoming seminar you wish to attend. (Note: If you cannot see the calendar for the instrument you want, click on the Instrument Filter drop down at the top of calendars page to see all instrument choices. Check the box beside “Flow Cytometry Seminars”).
Click on the “Invite Users” icon on the existing seminar booking. Note: This is the blue icon at the top left of the calendar booking. Calendar must be displayed in “week” or “day” view. Enter your user, lab, and account code information to add yourself to this seminar. The webinar/seminar will be cancelled if less than 3 people sign up by 24hrs before the scheduled time

Hands-on training request:

You must have attended an Introduction to Flow Cytometry Seminar/Webinar and completed the online assessment (score 100%) prior to making this request.
Please contact the core facility manager to schedule a training session.

Core facility acquisition request:

Core facility acquisition or Fee-per-Service requests are for those who require for a core facility staff member to acquire their samples. Please contact the core facility manager to discuss your needs and schedule a training session.

Note: Training and Core Staff Acquisition Sessions are not available on Tuesdays or during the hours of noon-1pm.

Trained users have 24hr access to the facility. Access to the facility will be granted once the user has completed training. To gain card access to the facility (Rm 4206, 4206A or 3111), approved users must fill in and submit the Access Form to the core facility operations manager.

Faculty of Medicine Account:

All users need a Faculty of Medicine uOttawa account in order to log into facility computers. To check if your uOttawa email account exists at the Faculty of Medicine, navigate to the Medtech Manage Passwords website. Enter your Username or email and Synchronize Password.

If the your account does not exist, contact [email protected] and provide the following information so an account can be requested for you through Faculty of Medicine IT: First Name, Last Name, Address (work), Building & Room Number , Phone (work), Expiry date (contract or studies), Email address (work if possible), Employee / Student Number, Job Title, Department, Manager/PI Supervisor: 

Access to data:

Data is exported from all flow cytometry acquisition computers directly into the Research (R) Drive. For users in labs external to RGN, this data can be accessed through the computer workstation in 4206. Login credentials for this computer workstation are you uOttawa Faculty of Medicine credentials. If you are not a uOttawa grad student or employee and do not have a uOttawa account, you will need contact [email protected].