Münster Flow cytometry facility (MFlow) is expanding its portfolio with the installation of a Cytek Aurora CS spectral cell sorter, which will be available in service mode from mid‑February 2026 to support high‑parameter cell sorting for biomedical research at the Medical Faculty.​

The Aurora CS is a full‑spectrum, 5‑laser cell sorter that complements the existing Cytek Aurora analyzer and significantly broadens the facility’s capabilities in multiparameter immunophenotyping and rare‑cell applications.​

The instrument is installed in an S2 security cabinet to provide an appropriate biosafety environment for sorting BSL 2 materials. It will be operated exclusively in service mode, with sorting carried out by MFlow staff for registered users of the Medical Faculty and the University of Münster.​

Instrument features and capabilities

• 5 lasers (UV 355 nm, Violet 405 nm, Blue 488 nm, Yellow‑Green 561 nm, Red 640 nm) enabling high‑dimensional spectral panels with up to 64 fluorescence channels plus FSC, bSSC and vSSC.​
• Sorting into multiple formats (up to 6‑way tube sorting and various multi‑well plate formats) to support applications ranging from bulk enrichment to single‑cell downstream assays.​
• Full Spectrum Profiling (FSP) technology with autofluorescence extraction, allowing flexible panel design with spectrally overlapping dyes and improved resolution of dim populations in complex samples.​

Funding and project context

The acquisition of the Aurora CS was made possible through the large equipment funding scheme of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, project 542997790) awarded to Oliver Soehnlein, chair of the Institute of Experimental Pathology (ExPat).

The new sorter has been integrated into the MFlow network as a spectral sorter, and will be operated and maintained by the facility in accordance with the MFlow user and fee regulations.

Access, services and next steps

• From mid‑February 2026, MFlow will offer assisted sorting services on the Aurora CS; users can request time slots via the established MFlow registration and booking workflows.​

• Typical use cases include high‑parameter immune profiling, sorting of rare immune subsets, preparation of cells for omics workflows and functional assays, and projects requiring sensitive detection in highly autofluorescent tissues.​

   

How to get started

Researchers interested in using the Aurora CS for upcoming projects are encouraged to contact the MFlow management for experimental design support, panel planning and scheduling of service sorts.​
All relevant details on registration, user regulations, fees and instrument portfolio can be found on the MFlow documents and forms.​