Research Labs Upgraded Aging Cell Sorters for New Systems
Biotech facilities are replacing obsolete flow cytometry equipment with high-cost spectral sorting technology.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Biotech
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Core research facilities are retiring aging flow cytometry instruments due to hardware and operating system obsolescence. The shift marks a move toward newer spectral cell sorting systems, a process accelerated by manufacturer service terminations.
Why it matters
The transition to spectral systems is driven by the inability to maintain older hardware, forcing labs to secure significant capital for new equipment. This shift impacts the throughput and precision of high-speed cell analysis in academic research environments.
Spectral cell sorters command a price range of $570,000 to $760,000, compared to $410,000 to $536,000 for conventional high-speed models. Facilities must also account for annual maintenance costs averaging $25,000 per instrument.
The players
University of Chicago
A major private research university that documented the retirement of legacy flow cytometry equipment.
Rockefeller University
A biomedical research institution that recently completed a phase-out of older cell sorting instruments.
Cytek
A biotechnology firm specializing in high-dimensional flow cytometry and spectral imaging technology.
Waters
A specialty measurement company that recently expanded its analytical instrumentation portfolio with the launch of the BD FACSDiscover A7.
The details
Flow cytometry facilities are replacing legacy filter-based cell sorters with spectral systems that analyze full emission profiles. Older instruments, such as the BD FACSAria II, have become non-viable due to the obsolescence of internal operating systems and key hardware components. By utilizing spectral data, researchers can better distinguish between overlapping fluorescent signals in complex biological samples.
Timeline
June 2020: A survey of 146 flow cytometry core facilities was conducted.
2022: The University of Chicago retired a BD FACSAria II sorter.
January and February 2026: Rockefeller University phased out BD FACSAria units.
Q2 2026: Cytek reported an installed base of 3,933 instruments.
September 14, 2026: Waters launched the BD FACSDiscover A7.
The Tech Race
The adoption of spectral systems represents a significant upgrade cycle over the legacy filter-based platforms that defined flow cytometry for over a decade. Researchers are moving away from older standards to take advantage of higher-dimensional data collection capabilities.
Research labs must now budget for significantly higher equipment costs to maintain operational capacity. Those without access to updated spectral sorting technology may face increased downtime due to the difficulty of sourcing service for older machines.
The takeaway
The move toward spectral sorting is unavoidable as aging hardware reaches the end of its service life. Labs should monitor procurement trends to assess how capital costs for these $760,000-tier systems will shift departmental funding priorities.
Further reading
For more on the current state of laboratory instrumentation, explore the Biotech section.
More information
Track trends in laboratory equipment procurement through the federal government spending database.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Research & Development World.
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