Jul 7 2015
For engineers building a dynamic light scattering machine or a particle sizer, finding a perfect quartz flow cell can cause even the most levelheaded of technicians to lose their cool.
For a majority of machines, the flow cytometry cell remains the heart of the flow cytometer. The countless dollars that are spent on mirrors, filters, lasers and detectors can all go to waste if the cell is not made well.
First is FireflySci's technological prowess. A flow cytometry cell needs to be about 50-100 microns to accommodate delicate measuring procedures. It goes without saying that precision manufacturing of this nature needs to be done with the most recent technological developments. FireflySci uses optical contact bonding on every quartz flow cell that is produced. If other techniques such as fire fusing or fritting are used on a flow cytometry cell, the results will be disastrous and it will result in a wasted time and money.
Second is FireflySci's sapphire craftsmanship. FireflySci boasts an unparalleled ability to produce an optically contact bonded sapphire flow cytometry cell. Sapphire features an extremely broad wavelength range in the UV and IR range along with a very high resistance to heat and adverse chemicals.
Third is FireflySci's continuous technological improvements. As the requirements in flow cytometry become more complex, the technology of a flow cell must keep pace. FireflySci is a standard-bearer, supplying low-volume custom quartz flow cells for the smallest startup or a capacity of over 500 cells/month for larger customers. While many companies will stonewall clients and attempt to simplify their designs to meet their lack of production ability, FireflySci seeks to grow with its customers, always learning and developing.
FireflySci's fourth advantage is providing customers with an accurate delivery schedule. A constant annoyance in the flow cytometry cell world is late delivery. Not empathizing with the necessity for cells to be delivered in a timely fashion is a deficit often experienced with some of the other quartz flow cell manufacturers. Once they have achieved the sale they become complacent and take their customers' business for granted. FireflySci is able to provide reliable delivery date and high monthly capacity, guaranteed.
The fifth area were FireflySci shines is in customer service. FireflySci's main point of pride is gratitude to their customers. FireflySci is able to give frequent production updates and design suggestions to come up with the best design possible. Yet on the other hand, without feedback, sketches and inquiries from its customers, FireflySci would not have developed the flow cytometry cell abilities that it has today. A quartz flow cell is not created in a vacuum (unless it's a UHV cell) and FireflySci continues to foster close ties with their clients.
Source: http://www.fireflysci.com/