Kinetic River delivers flagship flow cytometer to National Research Council

Custom flow cytometry instrumentation specialist Kinetic River has delivered its flagship ‘Potomac customizable flow cytometer’ to the National Research Council (CNR) in Italy.

The Potomac flow cytometer was installed by Kinetic River’s distribution and service partners CytoFlowService/EMC2.

It was installed in the Institute for the Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA) at the CNR.

The cytometer, according to Kinetic River, will be used to perform ‘label-free analysis of biological samples’ as well as to run water quality tests.

IREA-CNR Research Director Romeo Bernini said: “Kinetic River’s Potomac is a unique flow cytometer. We specifically requested a violet/UV excitation configuration, not available anywhere else, to meet our needs to use short wavelengths both to generate autofluorescence and to detect nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

“The instrument is very sensitive and easy to use, and furthermore provides the user with great flexibility, such as the possibility to access to raw waveform data.”

The Potomac has several customisation options, such as incorporation of exotic light sources, use of silicon photomultiplier detectors as well as ‘ability to tailor flow conditions over a 1,000-fold range’.

It can also be used to measure cyanobacteria, allowing ‘label-free analysis’ of water samples.

Cyanobacteria are the common contaminants in water reservoirs.

Kinetic River president Giacomo Vacca said: “We welcomed the challenge of designing this unique analyzer for IREA-CNR.

“The combination of all-UV/violet excitation and high sensitivity requirements was a perfect match for our platform, which is designed for flexibility and customization. Seeing our products enabling cutting-edge research and applications not supported by other manufacturers is what we’re all about.”