Panel Designer

Streamline your flow cytometry panel design with our intelligent, step-by-step tool. By integrating your biological markers and cytometer configuration, the AI-powered algorithm generates optimized fluorochrome recommendations that minimize spectral overlap and maximize resolution—reducing trial and error, saving valuable time and reagents, and delivering high-confidence results from the start.

 Biology — Antigen density, co-expression patterns, and expected population frequency

 Fluorochrome — Brightness index, spectral overlap, and spreading error

 Instrument — Laser configuration, detector sensitivity, and optical layout

● Sample — Tissue type, autofluorescence, and fixation requirements

 


 

Step 1

Start with Your Research Question

Every successful panel begins with a clearly defined experimental objective. Before selecting markers and fluorochromes, consider the following:

 

● What biological insight do you need to obtain from this experiment?

● Which cell population(s) are you aiming to identify or characterize?

● Are your targets expressed on the cell surface or within intracellular compartments?

 


 

Step 2

Choose Your Markers

The next step is to determine which markers—and how many—are required to resolve your target populations with clarity.

 

Key considerations:

● Expression intensity — Classify each antigen by its density on the cell surface:

High‑density markers that define major lineages

Intermediate markers expressed across a gradient

 


 

Step 3

Understand Your Instrument

A thorough understanding of your cytometer's optical configuration is fundamental to effective panel design. Your instrument setup determines how many parameters you can measure and which fluorochromes are compatible.

 

Factors to evaluate:

● Laser lines — Which excitation wavelengths are available on your system

● Detector array — The number of detection channels assigned to each laser

● Optical filters — The bandpass and dichroic filters installed, defining which emission wavelengths can

 


 

Step 4

Assign Fluorochromes Strategically

Carefully select fluorochromes to resolve markers at all expression levels and minimize spectral overlap. Consider using tools like a fluorochrome resolution ranking and a spectrum viewer to help assess:

 

● Fluorochrome resolution

● Cross laser excitation

● Fluorochrome spillover

Remember to pair bright fluorochromes with low expressing antigens and dim fluorochromes

 


 

Step 5

Panel Review

Take a moment to review your panel design and get your reagent orders in. Make sure to titrate your mass size reagents and fine‑tune the staining protocol. Also, remember to set up proper controls for compensation, FMO, and biology to ensure your panel works perfectly.