As flow cytometry enters a new era of spectral and imaging-enabled analysis, the ability to interrogate cells with unprecedented depth is rapidly reshaping immunology, oncology, and translational research. At the forefront of this transformation is BD Biosciences, whose FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer has introduced real-time imaging, ultra-high parameter detection, and integrated software workflows into routine cytometry.
Building on the success of its flagship five-laser system, BD has now expanded the platform with new three- and four-laser configurations, aimed at broadening access to advanced spectral and imaging technologies for laboratories with diverse scales, budgets, and research priorities. These systems promise not only greater flexibility and affordability, but also future-ready scalability for emerging biotech firms and academic research centres.
In this interview with MedTech Spectrum, Sri Pulavarthy, Associate Director, Global Marketing, BD Biosciences, discusses how the expanded FACSDiscover portfolio is democratizing high-parameter flow cytometry, the scientific breakthroughs enabled by 50+ marker analysis, and the growing importance of spatial and morphological context in cell profiling. He also shares insights on managing data complexity through BD’s evolving software ecosystem, the advantages of an end-to-end experimental workflow, and early adopter feedback that has positioned the A8 platform as a new benchmark in high-dimensional cytometry.
As the demand for deeper immune profiling and precision cell analytics accelerates across drug discovery and immunotherapy, BD’s latest innovations signal a significant shift in how scientists visualize, quantify, and interpret cellular behavior at scale.
BD has introduced new three- and four-laser configurations to complement its five-laser flagship system. How do these expanded configurations broaden accessibility for labs with varying scales and budgets?
The 3- and 4-laser BD FACSDiscoverTM A8 Cell Analyzer instrument configurations allow flow cytometry core labs and emerging biotech companies worldwide to access the same underlying BD CellView™ Image Technology and SpectralFX™ Technology as the flagship 5-laser system, at a lower price point. Not every breakthrough discovery requires 50 colors, but every discovery utilizing spectral flow cytometry benefits from the unique imaging parametersavailable on this platform.
These configurations offer a modular entry point for labs that need world-class resolution but have more focused panel requirements today. All laser configurations offer the option to start with a free trial of BD CellView™ Image Technology and can be upgraded later via software. This provides a future-proof investment, while having the flexibility to select a configuration today and add more lasers or imaging capabilities as their research complexity and funding grow.
BD SpectralFX Technology enables the analysis of 50+ characteristics from a single cell. What scientific breakthroughs or research applications does this level of resolution unlock, particularly in immunology and cancer immunotherapy?
Until recently, researchers have commonly used 10-15 markers to identify T-cells, B-cells, and NK cells. With BD SpectralFX, scientists can push the boundaries confidently and use those same lineage markers plus >35 additionalmarkers for exhaustion, metabolism, cytokine production, and intracellular signaling (like phosphorylation). This allows for Deep Immune Profiling, which offers unparalleled insights into cells, in the fields of immunology and cancer research, not to mention the maximization of sample utilization.
The system-aware algorithm and innovative QC, enabled by our proprietary technology, dynamically adapts the instrument performance to several variables in real-time. This allows for a more confident resolution of low-prevalent markers that might be critical biomarkers in immuno-oncology research.
BD CellView Image Technology brings real-time, high-speed imaging into flow cytometry. How does the integration of spatial and morphological insights change the way scientists interpret cell data compared to traditional cytometry systems?
The integration of spatial and morphological insights into spectral flow cytometry, via BD CellViewTM Image Technology, provides tremendous experimental capabilities to the researchers. Beyond whether a marker is expressed or not, knowing where it is expressed in/on a cell can have profound implications. It is a known limitation of the traditional cytometry systems, including the spectral instruments.
With the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer, researchers are now able to see protein translocation into the nucleus, easily distinguish immunological synapses from coincident events, connect CAR spatial phenotypes with function all athigh throughput in spectral flow cytometry. We are providing spatial and morphological context into cells combined with the statistical rigor of flow, through a plethora of quantifiable imaging parameters that are automatically generated in real-time.
Many labs struggle with data complexity as spectral and imaging capabilities grow. How does the new software ecosystem address challenges related to dataset size, standardization, and workflow efficiency?
The BD software ecosystem addresses growing data complexity by streamlining acquisition, transfer, and analysis into an integrated workflow for the BD FACSDiscover platform. The BD FACSChorus enables selective data recording, reducing unnecessary file size of images, while maintaining critical information. Seamless compatibility between BD CellView Image Extractor, FlowJo with CellView Lens, and BD Research Cloud, supports consistent image conversion and analysis across platforms. To enhance efficiency, the ecosystem leverages high-speed transfer options, NAS and cloud storage solutions, and collaborative tools within BD Research Cloud for remote monitoring and data sharing. Together, these innovations simplify large-scale spectral and imaging workflows, helping labs manage data growth without compromising research quality.
The new analyzers integrate seamlessly with BD’s broader ecosystem (reagents, sorters, and new near-infrared fluorochromes like RealViolet™ 828 and RealBlue™ 824). How does this end-to-end approach enhance consistency and quality in high-parameter flow cytometry experiments?
BD’s end-to-end ecosystem delivers consistency and reproducibility for high-parameter flow cytometry, solving the challenge of achieving matching data between spectral analyzers and sorters. The BD FACSDiscover™ A8 Cell Analyzer and S8 Cell Sorter leverage BD SpectralFX™ Technology to enable assay portability “out of the box,” even for panels as large as 50 colors. Built-in QC tools and pre-optimized default settings minimize variability across instruments and over time, crucial for longitudinal studies and multi-site research collaborations in drug discovery and development.
BD HorizonTM Real Fluorochromes have been optimized to deliver the best resolution on the FACSDiscover platform, which not only reduces panel design complexity but also provides additional spectral bandwidth on the instrument.This integration of hardware, reagents, and software empowers researchers to confidently scale experiments, achieve reproducible results, and accelerate time-to-answer, setting a new benchmark for high-dimensional flow cytometry.
Early adopters describe the BD FACSDiscover A8 as a “game changer.” From BD’s perspective, what feedback or performance outcomes have been most compelling since the first launch, and how do these new configurations build on that momentum?
The BD FACSDiscover™ A8 Cell Analyzer has rapidly become a new standard in the field, with early adopters at institutions describing it as a 'game changer' that opens a new dimension for biological discovery. Most of the top tier pharma, biotech, universities, and institutes are already utilizing this breakthrough technology for their research programs. Since its landmark unveiling at CYTO 2025, the most compelling feedback has centered on the platform's ability to unlock novel insights in basic, translational, and drug discovery research much more efficiently. By expanding to 3- and 4-laser configurations, we are building on this massive momentum to reach a wider range of labs and empower the scientific community in advancing their discoveries.
