Facility Policies
In this section you will find a summary of the Facility Policies at the Parnassus Flow Cytometry CoLab (PFCC), these are subdivided in the sections:
- Rules and Guidelines
- Biosafety
- Resource Availability and Scheduling
- Cancellation Policy and Fines for Misuse
- Rates and Billing
- System Changeover and Shutdown Policies on Self-use Instruments
- Data Management
- Publication Acknowledgements
Rules and Guidelines
Services and instrumentation are available for all researchers from the DRC, UCSF, and affiliates. New users of PFCC who expect to operate any of the self-use equipment must fullfill the Basic Training Requirements. External clients may also be approved to use Core services (a business contract needs to be initiated and sent for review in this case, click here for more information).
The Core is a community facility shared amongst hundreds of researchers, so please be respectful of others and follow the rules and policies below. Failure to follow these rules and guidelines will result in fines and repeat offenders will find their use of this facility to be revoked.
Biosafety
It is required that all users undergo the following online training if not done so already: (1) Laboratory Safety for Researchers. (2) Biosafety Training. (3) Bloodborne Pathogens Training. (4) Laser Safety. These courses can be found under the UC Learning Center website. Search for the appropriate training classes listed above.
Please follow your BUA and if necessary, add to your BUA where the Flow Core equipment being utilized is located. We can accommodate samples of up to BSL-2 classification within the Core.
When accessing the Flow Core rooms PPE is required, e.g Lab Coat and gloves.
Resource Availability and Scheduling
Click on Services & Instrumentation and choose the one you need for more information on its availability. Note that some labs and BSL-2 sample types have priority times on certain instruments, but if there is a machine you need to use at a specific time, and you have a justifiable scientific reason for it, we can figure out a way to accommodate you.
Click on Scheduling for more information on those rules and guidelines. Scheduling and booking of instruments is mandatory before use. If an instrument is down, Core staff will attempt to notify you ASAP, and attempt to reschedule your experiment to the time you requested. This could involve using a different instrument. If you are uncomfortable running the alternative instrument, the Core will assist you and waive the Assistance fee. If the instrument is down and there are no other alternative machines to use within the Core, you will not be charged.
Cancellation Policy and Fines for Misuse
The PFCC has in place a cancellation policy where a fee is charged when appointments are cancelled within a certain timeframe before the scheduled event. Since Feb 1, 2020 users can <Delete Cancellations> themselves using iLab scheduler during the cancellation period. For more details on the Cancellation Policy please visit the Scheduling.
Cancellations are tracked and will show up on your billing invoice. No-shows will be billed based on their scheduled time.
Failing to perform the System Changeover/Shutdown SOP is a Fine for Misuse of Equipment of at least one hour plus the cost per hour for the time the instrument was left on. Repeat offenders will find their use of this facility to be revoked.
Rates and Billing
Recharge rates were determined by the cost of implementing the service divided by the number of hours expected to be used. The UCSF Recharge Office approved all rates.
All users will be billed on scheduled time and/or time used, whichever is greater. The MyCores system will automatically create and send an invoice to your PI or whomever your PI has delegated to receive this.
System Changeover and Shutdown Policies on Self-use Instruments
Follow the appropriate SOP for the instrument’s changeover or shutdown (download a copy HERE), and inform Core staff if anything is not working.
The last user registered on the schedule for that day is responsible for shutting down the instrument. After every use, check the scheduler for the most updated information and see if there is anyone on after you.
Failing to perform the System Changeover/Shutdown SOP is a Fine for Misuse of Equipment of at least one hour plus the cost per hour for the time the instrument was left on.
Data Management
The Flow CoLab is not responsible for your data on any of the instrument computers. Your data on the computer may be deleted at any time.
Please backup your data after you are done running your samples. All computers are networked so you can connect to your person Cloud storage service. UCSF now offers free Box accounts (under MyAccess) for all UCSF employees allowing online cloud storage. Flash drives and portable hard drives are also allowed. If you are doing some sort of time course experiment or have a justifiable scientific reason for leaving your data on the computer, please contact us and let us know as we can accommodate your needs.
Failing to clear any old data as in the System Changeover/Shutdown SOP is a Fine for Misuse of Equipment of at least one hour for the time the staff spent clearing the database.
Publication Acknowledgements
Please acknowledge the Parnassus Flow Cytometry CoLab (PFCC) in all publications and grant applications if you are using equipment, services, expertise, or data generated at the laboratory. Mention "UCSF Parnassus Flow CoLab, RRID:SCR_018206".
Authorship should be considered when our staff members are involved in significantly developing the experimental design or contribute to the publication content by advancing it to publishable form.
Please inform us if you publish using data obtained from our facility, send us the PDF file of your publications and let us know if the grant is awarded. This will enable us to demonstrate our involvement in the research at the university, aiding the procurement of future equipment for the Flow Core. When you succeed, we succeed. Your publications help support our center grant which assists in keeping this Flow Cytometry Facility running.
Please use the following support grants in your papers:
UCSF Parnassus Flow CoLab RRID:SCR_018206 and DRC Center Grant NIH P30 DK063720 for using any of our instruments and services.
NIH S10 1S10OD018040-01 for using our CyTOF2 “Charmander.”
NIH S10 1S10OD021822-01 for using our Aria Fusion “Jabba the Hutt.”
NIH S10 1S10OD026940‐01 for using our Aurora “Abby Cadabby”
NIH S10 1S10OD025187-01 for using the MIBI.
General example: “We acknowledge the PFCC (RRID:SCR_018206) for assistance generating Flow/Mass Cytometry data. Research reported here was supported in part by the DRC Center Grant NIH P30 DK063720."
If any FACSAria platform was used please mention: “We acknowledge the PFCC (RRID:SCR_018206) supported in part by Grant NIH P30 DK063720 and by the NIH S10 Instrumentation Grant S10 1S10OD021822-01 .”
If CyTOF / Helios platform was used please mention: “We acknowledge the PFCC (RRID:SCR_018206) supported in part by Grant NIH P30 DK063720 and by the NIH S10 Instrumentation Grant S10 1S10OD018040-01 .”
If the Aurora platform was used please mention: “We acknowledge the PFCC (RRID:SCR_018206) supported in part by Grant NIH P30 DK063720 and by the NIH S10 Instrumentation Grant S10 1S10OD026940‐01 .”
If the MIBIscope platform was used please mention: “We acknowledge the PFCC (RRID:SCR_018206) supported in part by Grant NIH P30 DK063720 and by the NIH S10 Instrumentation Grant S10 1S10OD025187-01 .”
Please inform us if you publish, or if you need help. Submit publication details so we can update your publication in our records. When you succeed, we succeed. Your publications help support our center grant which assists in keeping this Flow Cytometry Facility running.