RE: Contrad vs. Coulter Clenz

We have used both and agree with David's comments about the Contrad 70. 
Contrad 70 as a 5 or 10% concentration really cleans up the tubing quite well. We used it routinely when we ran our FacStarPlus sorter.
Our regular suppliers have discontinued carrying it and we would have to order it directly from the US or Great Britain.
It just so happens we have easy access to Coulter Clenz (used by our Hematology analyzers) and use it routinely on our FacsCalibur : 50% concentration mixed with sheath or PBS, not water. 
It forms a precipitate upon standing for a few days and you have to keep an eye on it and discard when necessary. It works very well and for us, and best of all, it's free. The hematology analyzers use about 1/10th of what's supplied. 
 
Cheers,
Ernest Stapleton 
Division Manager 
Immunology and Genetics Laboratories 
Room 1524 Health Sciences Center 
St. John's, Newfoundland 
A1B 3V6 Canada 
709-777-8654 

-----Original Message-----
From: Haviland, David L [mailto:David.L.Haviland@uth.tmc.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2008 3:29 PM
To: cyto-inbox
Subject: RE: Contrad vs. Coulter Clenz



 

I have no experience with Coulter Clenz.  So I'll chime in this way --	I used to use 2-3% SDS and  bleach but having switched to contrad 70(10% working solution) for all four of the cytometers I supervise has drastically cut down on the amount of bleach I run through the machines.   This translates in to less wear and tear on the quick connects which bleach hurts over a period of time.   For me, Contrad 70 is the best all around cleaner. 

 

I would also add that I have a nano-tech group that likes to check out their "nano" particles on the Calibur and in cleaning the machine with contrad, the Calibur ends up being one of the cleanest machines in the room as their particles are a the limit of resolution of the Calibur.	 So to see their particles they need the machine as clean as can be.   (They are also a funny group as I've never seen anyone get so excited using the 3-D display.)

 

So on all my machines the "last sample" of the day is warm 10% contrad for about 20 minutes followed by DDH2O for about 15 minutes before shut down.	 As a result, the number of false starts and clogged machines, at least for me, has dropped considerably. 

 

David

 

=================================

David L. Haviland, Ph.D.

Flow Core Director

Institute of Molecular Medicine, R637I

Univ. of Texas, Houston - HSC

1825 Pressler

Houston, TX  77030

 


  _____  


From: Marsiglia, Brian [mailto:Brian.Marsiglia@inova.org] 
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 9:12 AM
To: cyto-inbox
Subject: Contrad vs. Coulter Clenz

 

 

 

Which do you feel is better for cleaning out a flow cytometer, Coulter Clenz or Contrad?

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