Method for visualizing aerosol contamination in flow sorters.

The routine operation of a flow cytometer generates aerosols, and most commercially available instrument are not designed to be 100% effective in their elimination. Aerosols are a concern for operators as well as for others in the facility because of the potential for exposure to contamination, especially during sorting of biohazardous samples. This unit describes a visual method for examining aerosol containment using a commercial resin that fluoresces under UV or black light illumination. The method is rapid, inexpensive, and simple. Results are immediate and potentially quantitative.