Services
We can help you build strong CyTOF experiments by suggesting options such as internal spike-in controls and barcoding to control and monitor batch effects, as well as strategies to ensure the integrity of samples intended for RNA library preparation.
These considerations are important whether using a pre-titered mass cytometry kit or designing a custom panel tailored to your system’s biology. For experimental consistency, the same samples can be processed in parallel for additional RNA sequencing.
Interested in a custom mass cytometry panel? Our experts can help with pairing metals and antibodies to minimize metal crosstalk and maximize sensitivity.
Interested in bulk V(D)J and mRNA transcriptome libraries or single cell library preparations? We can help with these projects.
Contact the core director at miannone@unc.edu for scheduling.
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Mass Cytometry Services
Consultation and Protocol Support
Experimental planning includes discussion and implementation of best-practice protocols for sample preparation and experimental design to account for normalization, titrations, and quality control.
Panel Design
An initial step for mass cytometry experiments is proper pairing of metals to antibodies based upon such factors as antigen abundance, metal oxide formation, and spill-over from both small amounts of metal impurities and plus and minus one effects. These effects can be mostly overcome with proper panel design. The core offers this service using expertise and specialized software.
Antibody Procurement
In order to assure that the proper reagents are utilized, if requested by the researcher, the core facility will order antibodies and reagents with pass-through costs.
Cell Staining
Barcoding, surface, intracellular, and viability staining with custom panel or Maxpar MDIPA kits.
Data Acquisition
Cell suspension data are acquired on the CyTOF XT mass cytometer (Standard BioTools) at an hourly rate.
Omic Services
RNA Extraction
Total RNA is isolated from cell suspensions by silica spin-column adsorption chromatography. RNA concentration, purity and integrity are determined by fluorometry and gel electrophoresis.
Illumina Stranded mRNA Prep
Indexed cDNA libraries of known mRNA strand origin are synthesized from fragmented and randomly primed total RNA. Library concentration and quality are determined by fluorometry and gel electrophoresis. Indexed libraries are pooled and submitted to the UNC HTSF for sequencing.
T Cell Receptor 5′ RACE Amplicon Library Prep
Indexed cDNA libraries of the variable (5′) regions of T lymphocyte antigen receptors are synthesized from total RNA by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (5′-RACE). Library concentration and quality are determined by fluorometry and gel electrophoresis. Indexed libraries are pooled and submitted to the UNC HTSF for sequencing.
10X Genomics Single Cell Library Preps of 5′ Transcriptome and Receptor V(D)J
Indexed cDNA libraries of the variable (5′) regions of T or B lymphocyte antigen receptors are synthesized from single T or B lymphocytes following 10X Gel Beads-in-Emulsion preparation Library concentration and quality are determined by fluorometry (Qubit) and gel electrophoresis. Indexed libraries are pooled and submitted to the UNC HTSF for sequencing.
UNC Mass Cytometry and Cell Omics Rates
Rates as of 9/1/2025
To inquire about rates where noted, please contact the core director by email at miannone@unc.edu
Instrument Time (Hourly Rate)
- UNC Investigator – $136.00
- UNC Systems Institutional Rate – $ 334.00
- External Academic Rate – $520.00
- External Commercial Rate – please inquire
Antibody Conjugations
- Conjugation to Lanthanide, Cadmium or Platinum Isotopes (1-6 Antibodies) – $956.00
Cell Staining for Mass Cytometry
- CyTOF Sample Prep and Staining – please inquire
Omics
- RNA Extraction – please inquire
- Illumina Stranded mRNA prep – please inquire
- T Cell Receptor 5’ RACE Amplicon Library Prep – please inquire
- 10X Genomics Single Cell Library Prep of 5’ Transcriptome and Receptor V(D)J – please inquire