News

BD Launches Cell Analyzer Combining Spectral and Real-Time Imaging Technologies

• By John K. Waters
• 05/14/2025

Global medical technology firm BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) has launched a new cell analysis instrument that combines two advanced technologies—spectral flow cytometry and real-time cell imaging—into a single platform, aiming to expand the range of cell-based experiments in biomedical research.

The new instrument, called the BD FACSDiscover A8 Cell Analyzer, builds on earlier work by the company in cell sorting and imaging, and is intended for use in areas such as immunology, oncology, and translational medicine. It is now available for commercial ordering globally.

The FACSDiscover A8 is equipped with BD SpectralFX Technology, which enables simultaneous analysis of over 50 cell characteristics, and BD CellView Image Technology, which supports high-speed imaging of individual cells, including structural and spatial features. The platform is designed to provide researchers with more information per experiment than traditional flow cytometry, which typically lacks spatial resolution.

The combination of these two technologies was first introduced in BD’s earlier FACSDiscover S8 Cell Sorter, and the company says the analyzer version is intended to lower the barrier to access for laboratories that do not require cell sorting capabilities.

Targeting Translational Research
The new analyzer also includes updated software tools aimed at making complex workflows easier to manage, including a new version of BD FACSChorus Software and an updated FlowJo v11 for data analysis. BD said these tools are designed to support large data sets and facilitate adoption among users unfamiliar with high-content cytometry.

Additional features include automation to support high-throughput processing, which BD claims improves efficiency and cost-per-sample performance. The system is designed to integrate with BD’s broader suite of reagents and cell sorters.

Early testing was conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where the instrument has been used for immunophenotyping studies related to biomarker discovery. According to the institution, the tool allows researchers to generate reproducible data more quickly, particularly in complex studies involving multiple immune cell types.

Broader Context
Flow cytometry is a core technique in biomedical research for measuring physical and chemical characteristics of cells. Traditional approaches are limited by the number of fluorescent tags that can be used simultaneously and by their inability to capture detailed visual information.

BD’s integration of imaging and spectral capabilities is part of a broader trend in life sciences toward multi-modal platforms that combine traditional measurement techniques with visual analysis and automation.

The company plans to showcase the FACSDiscover A8 at the CYTO 2025 conference later this month. It will also launch a “FACSDiscover Partner Program” in select markets, offering customers alternative purchasing and support options.