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will have to use a trial and error approach until you are obtaining as close to one particle per used image
as possible.
How to Run a Trigger Mode Sample
1.
Turn on the laser and allow it to warm up. Usually about fifteen minutes is sufficient for this
purpose.
2.
Determine and set your initial “Context” settings.
3.
Introduce your sample to the FlowCAM.
4.
Click on the “Setup” menu option at the top of VisualSpreadsheet Main window and select “Set
Up and Focus” and focus your FlowCAM.
5.
Click on the “Setup” menu option at the top of the VisualSpreadsheet Main window and select
“Trigger Mode Setup”.
6.
If possible, open the “Particles per Used Image” value display.
7.
Determine if sample is too concentrated and dilute as needed.
8.
Change “Context” settings if necessary.
9.
Close “Trigger Mode Set Up”.
10.
Click on the “Setup” menu option at the top of the VisualSpreadsheet Main window and select
“Trigger Mode (No Save)”.
11.
Determine if your focus is correct and if sample is too concentrated, dilute as necessary.
12.
Close “Trigger Mode (No Save)” once concentration and focus are both deemed to be
appropriate.
13.
Click on the “Analysis” menu option at the top of the VisualSpreadsheet Main window.
14.
Select “Trigger Mode”.
15.
Input your desired stop criteria and click “OK”.
16.
Save the run in an appropriate location with any file name you wish and click “Save”.
17.
Allow run to finish. Repeat above steps for each sample.
Factors that May Affect the Results of Your Trigger Mode Run
Once you have successfully completed a run, it is important to note that there are a few factors that may
affect the performance of your FlowCAM in Trigger Mode.
When using a FlowCAM, your objective lens does not view the entire width of the flow cell. If you are
using the FlowCAM for counting purposes, you may want to consider using a Field of View (FOV) flow
cell - this will allow you to image the entire fluid stream (for more information please contact the Fluid
Imaging Technologies, Inc. Sales Department).
If you are not suspending your sample in a dense/viscous fluid, or you are not occasionally stirring the
sample in the funnel, you may get a settling effect. You may notice that as the fluid level in your funnel
decreases particles may stick to the side of the funnel. If you see this settling affect you may want to
carefully mix the funnel contents. During a run you can also open the Time Series Graph. Select
“Tools” and then click “Time Series Graph”. When the “Frequency Plot” is selected, you may notice a
gradual decrease in the slope of the trend line. This decrease may mean that your sample is slowly
