What should follow the calibration of a cytometer to ensure proper performance?

Following the calibration of a cytometer, it is essential to measure rainbow single-peak beads to ensure proper performance. The use of these beads serves multiple purposes: they provide a reliable standard for assessing the performance of the cytometer and help to verify that the instrument is correctly calibrated across various parameters, including fluorescence sensitivity, instrument uniformity, and alignment.

Rainbow beads are designed to emit specific fluorescence signals that correspond to standardized intensity levels across different channels. By measuring these beads after calibration, one can confirm that the cytometer's detecting capabilities are functioning as expected and that the calibration has effectively optimized the system's performance. This step ensures data quality and accuracy, which is critical for any downstream analysis that relies on the cytometry results.

In contrast, post-calibration practices like only documenting procedures or disposing of previous data do not actively contribute to verifying the cytometer's current performance. Similarly, solely calibrating laser settings may address only one aspect of the cytometer's functionality without validating the overall system performance through empirical measurement of known standards. Thus, measuring rainbow single-peak beads serves as a comprehensive quality control step that substantiates the calibration process and upholds data fidelity.