Academic User Policy

    This policy applies to instruments and services provided by the Turku Bioscience Cytometry Core (TBCC). Every user must read and follow the practices herein.

    Publications and acknowledgements

    1. It is obligatory to acknowledge the Cytometry core AND Biocenter Finland in your publications. e.g., Flow cytometry was performed at the Cytometry Core, Turku Bioscience Centre, Turku, Finland, with the support of Biocenter Finland.
    2. Once published, please report your publication here.

    General instrument usage rules

    1. No eating or drinking is allowed at the TBCC facilities.
    2. Lab coat and gloves must be worn.
    3. Outdoor clothing is forbidden in TBCC instrument areas. External users may place their outdoor clothing to the TBCC office.
    4. Users must keep workspaces/equipment clean by following the guides located beside each instrument.
    5. Users may not disassemble or physically modify instruments without prior authorization and training. Contact TBCC in advance when a customized solution is needed.
    6. Contact TBCC staff and inform of any instrument malfunction or for help optimizing configuration.

    Access, training & contact

    1. TBCC staff are available on weekdays 9-15.
    2. Contact us in our office BioCity 5th floor, room 5135 (Cytometry) or by email or phone:

    cytometry (at) bioscience.fi or +358 (0)50 365 1598

    Obligatory introductory training is required before instrument use. Users must read the instrument user policy before training. You are required to prefill a training request on OpenIRIS so that staff can customize your training to your needs. A preliminary consultation discussion about the project with the TBCC staff is recommended. TBCC staff reserves the right to decide if a user needs additional training or to completely revoke instrument access if the user policy is not followed.

    Reservations and cancellations

    1. It is forbidden to use the instruments without a reservation.
    2. Reservations are made in OpenIRIS: https://utu.openiris.io or https://openiris.io
    3. Reservation cancellation must be completed 24 hours in advance through OpenIRIS. Late cancellations will be charged. The user must inform TBCC staff in advance if they are unable to cancel their reservation.
    4. Users must check OpenIRIS schedule for reservations following theirs and follow instrument-specific shutdown/standby procedures accordingly.

    Biosafety

    1. TBCC premises are biosafety level 1 (BSL1), (except for the Sony and Discover Cell Sorters, which are BSL2). No samples requiring BSL2 can be analyzed at the flow cytometer analyzers. For all BSL2 experiments a meeting must be held with TBCC staff to discuss additional safety measures.
    2. If you are not sure whether your material is BSL1 or BSL2, classifications outlined by the Gene Technology Board of Finland are here. For further questions regarding GMO classification in Finland contact gtlk.stm@stm.fi.
    3. TBCC staff may ask to see your GMO risk assessment approved by the GTLK.
    4. For all live human samples collected after 1/1/2020, users must wear an FPP2/3 face mask and safety goggles/vizor and follow instrument-specific instructions/restrictions.
    5. Users must inform TBCC staff whether or not human samples have been tested for HIV or hepatitis.

    Billing

    1. All instruments are charged per hour. Users are invoiced according to academic pricing here. Industrial and external users are invoiced separately.
    2. In case of reservation misuse or failure to follow shutdown procedures, users will be billed for additional hours. If the instrument is left on over the weekend, the charge can be significant, and P.I.s will be informed.
    3. TBCC staff charge contact hours and preparation time for workshops/lectures/demos.

    Data storage and handling

    1. It is the user’s responsibility to save their data and take it with them after using the instrument/service.
    2. Files are removed automatically from the operating computers, without prior notice. Storage period is instrument specific. These files cannot be retrieved. Please contact us to learn more about data storage options.

    Instrument specific user rules

    Cell analyzers (Fortessas and Symphony)

    1. Cancellation of booking time is only done before the actual booking time has started and only if you have a good reason (like e.g., dead cells or not working ab…).
    2. Adjustments of booking time are only made for operator-assisted pilot experiments or when there is a verified instrument malfunction.
    3. The washing, after the instrument has been used, has to be included in the booking time (minimum 15 minutes).
    4. If the user has to start up the instrument, they can come about 15 minutes before the booking time, to start up the instrument (the lasers need about 15 min to warm up).
    5. Switch off the software, instrument and computer, if there is no user after you within 2h, the last user of the day (marked in Open Iris), has to always switch off the instrument.

    Cell sorters (Sonys and Discover) and mass cytometers

    1. Cancellation of the booking before the actual booking time has started is possible by contacting us.
    2. The booking can be adjusted when the user finishes earlier, but you have to contact us when you notice that you will use less time or directly after you finish.
    3. Booking time contains 30 min start-up time (washing and calibration) and about 10-15 min shutdown (including the washing after sorting).
    Last updated on January 26, 2026