FACS sheath buffer composition - (Apr/14/2011 )

anyone got the ingredients of the sheath buffer? can't find it at the BD website.

That's because they want to sell it to you... I am not so sure, but I think it was just PBS with 0.01% NaN3. Or something like that. I will ask our old technician, she used to do it herself.

indeed, I also think it is PBS. I read a topic at Bioforum a while ago and the ingredients included Na2PO4 and stuff. it must be PBS, or a modified version

Purdue Cytometry Forum, the best for stuff like that, sez: autoclaved standard PBS.
http://www.cyto.purdue.edu/hmarchiv/2006/1856.htm
https://lists.purdue.edu/pipermail/cytometry/2009-January/036478.html

Should you filter it before you use it? Tearing the tubing apart to remove a clog is a real nightmare.

So our former technician agrees: "Hi, Rsm. It's only autoclaved PBS. If you will culture the sorted cells, I think NaN3 seems toxic for the cells. In order to keep the inside of machine sterile, sometime you need to do the long cleaning with EtOH followed with protocol." Plus I agree with Labrat, you should definitely filter the PBS with sterile bottle top filter.