How To
SUBMIT REQUEST
To make reservations for assisted flow cytometry acquisition, please make reservations at least 48 hours in advance. Contact us for scheduling.
For any other service, a filled order request form is required before any service is performed. Projects with less than 20 samples can usually be completed within 2 weeks of order placement and sample delivery. For projects with more samples, please contact us for turnaround time.
- Download and complete the appropriate service request form electronically:
- For Luminex, Simoa, ELISA and xCELLigence assays:
- For flow cytometry-based assays and sample processing:
- Email the completed form as an attachment to . We will follow up by email regarding your request.
SAMPLE PREPARATION
Click on the links below for assay-specific instructions:
- Flow cytometry-based immune assessment
- Immunoassays (Luminex, Simoa and ELISA)
- Real-Time Cell Lysis and Proliferation using xCELLigence
Please visit our Services and Pricing page for specific instructions regarding collecting samples and planning experiments. For further consultation for experimental design, please contact us.
SAMPLE SUBMISSION
ON-CAMPUS SAMPLE DROP OFF
Prior to drop-off, please contact the laboratory at (310) 794-8932 to schedule delivery.
1000 Veteran Ave., Rehab Center 1-308
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1732
Mail Code: 168017
(310) 206-0270
Monday-Friday, 8AM-6PM
OFF-CAMPUS SAMPLE SHIPPING
Prior to shipping, please contact the laboratory at (310) 794-8932 to schedule delivery. At the time of shipping, please email a notification to with the tracking number. It is preferred that samples be sent overnight before Wednesday to guarantee receipt by Friday. Clients will be notified by email when samples are received. Please address samples to:
UCLA Immune Assessment Core
1000 Veteran Ave., Rehab Bldg. 1-308
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1735
RESULTS AND DATA RETRIEVAL
Click on the links below for assay-specific instructions:
- Flow cytometry-based immune assessment
- Imunoassays (Luminex and ELISA)
- Real-Time Cell Lysis and Proliferation using xCELLigence
For further consultation regarding results and data analysis, please contact us.
Flow cytometry-based immune assessment
Sample Preparation
All basic requirements for each available assay can be found in the Table below. Our assays are optimized for use with fresh blood or isolated human PBMCs/mouse splenocytes. Please inquire about requests for experiments using other sources of cells.
| Assay | Acceptable Specimen | Acceptable Time from Collection (for whole blood only) | Minimum Test Requirements |
| Immunophenotyping | Peripheral whole blood collected in acid citrate dextrose (ACD), sodium/lithium heparin, or EDTA | 30 hrs | 200 ul blood or 0.5-1 x 106 PBMCs (per panel) |
| Intracellular Cytokine Staining | Peripheral whole blood collected in ACD or sodium/lithium heparin | 30 hrs | 2 ml blood or 2 x 106 PBMCs (per stimulus) |
| Direct and Indirect All-stimulation Assay | Peripheral whole blood collected in ACD or sodium/lithium heparin | 30 hrs | 1 ml blood or 1 x 106 recipient PBMCs 1 x 106 donor splenocytes or PBMCs (per stimulus) |
| Lymphocyte Proliferation Assay | Peripheral whole blood collected in sodium/lithium heparin | 30 hrs | 1 ml blood or 1 x 106 PBMCs |
| Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity Assay | Peripheral whole blood collected in sodium/lithium heparin | 30 hrs | 2 ml blood or 2 x 106 PBMCs |
| Oxidative Burst Assay | Peripheral whole blood collected in sodium/lithium heparin | 30 hrs | 200 ul whole blood |
For whole blood samples, please refer to the requirements for sample collection per test for each assay. Whole blood samples should be collected, stored, and shipped at room temperature and will only be accepted for testing only within the test-specific timeframes listed above. above. For isolated and cryopreserved cells, please reference the minimum cell amounts required per test listed above. When planning your assay, please also consider that the typical yield from 8 ml of peripheral blood from healthy individuals is approximately 5-12 x 106 PBMCs. Processing from whole blood and cryopreservation services are available. If you choose to isolate PBMCs from whole blood yourself, we recommend overlaying buffy coat or whole blood over Ficoll-Paque PLUS to collect PBMCs, washing, and freezing at the desired concentration. Please contact us for further questions about the proper isolation protocols to follow. Cryopreserved cells should be collected under sterile conditions, stored in liquid nitrogen or at -80°C, and shipped frozen on dry ice.
Results and Data Retrieval
All prices include data analysis with FlowJo. Additional analysis can be requested. Raw data (.fcs files), reports of the analyzed data, and PDFs of the gating strategy will be provided to investigators. Depending on the assay requested, the turnaround time can be up to two working weeks.
Immunoassays (Luminex and ELISA)
Sample Preparation
Most Luminex and ELISA assays are designed to test 15-200 ul plasma, serum, supernatant and/or lysate samples. For acceptable sample types and volumes required per test, please refer to the specific assay of interest.
For plasma and serum samples, use the appropriate whole blood collection tube type. Please refer to the specific assay protocol for collection methods (i.e. anticoagulant types) compatible with the assay, and store collected plasma or serum samples at -80°C.
For supernatant samples, store collected samples at -80°C. Please provide at least 2 ml of the media used to be included as background.
For lysate or homogenate samples, prepare samples using protocols optimized for the tissue under study and normalize all samples by protein concentration (range 200-2,000 ug/ml). Store collected samples at -80°C. Please provide at least 2 ml of the buffer used to be included as background.
Results and Data Retrieval
Customers will receive test results with standard curves, calculated concentrations and quality control parameters by email. Additional analyses including heatmaps and clustering are available for a small fee. Depending on the assay requested, the turnaround time can be up to two working weeks.
Real-Time Cell Lysis and Proliferation using xCELLigence
Sample Preparation
UCLA clients should prepare target and effector cells in culture media with >85% viability. 50 ml cell culture media and/or cell proliferation stimuli should be provided by the client. For institutions other than UCLA, frozen cells can be shipped on dry ice. Cell culture conditions should be provided. Cell culture media should be provided by customer only if it is of a special formulation.
Results and Data Retrieval
Normalized cell index plot over time will be provided to customers. Depending on the assay requested, the turnaround time can be up to two working weeks.