Setting Up Mass Cytometry in a Shared Resource Lab Environment.

Core facilities or shared resource laboratories (SRL) ensure fast and direct access to high-end instrumentation that is often expensive and requires technical expertise to be operated and maintained. SRL have the responsibility and capability to ensure the possibility of generating reproducible quality data by implementing best practices, providing expert knowledge, and keeping the necessary instrumentation in good shape. Here we review critical steps involved in the integration of mass cytometry in a shared resource lab environment. Lab requirements and considerations for best practices are discussed, and critical aspects of mass cytometry project discussions as well as strategies for the management and documentation of samples are presented.