Your spectral cytometer sidekick
- Low Cost, Kit Form, Open Source
- 488-nm laser
- Two models:
- 1S-1F (1 scatter, 1 fluorescence: fully open source with external detectors and lab electronics)
- 2S-14F (2 scatter, 14 fluorescence: complete kit with electronics set)
- Volumetric cell counting
- Open source software: Honeychrome
- First version presented at CYTO 2025
What is Cytkit?
For every lab
Accessible high-performance spectral cytometer for biologists, technology developers, lab hackers, educators…
User-accessible+maintainable+customisable
Easy to assemble, align, configure and maintain yourself, no license costs, no need for a service contract
FSC / SSC / 14 FL + volumetric sample flow
Measure cells with up to ~ 10-colour panels, with absolute volumetric counting of cell populations. 8-peak sensitivity. 3% rCV (fluorescence).
Product Spec
Cytkit Models
Cytkit 1S-1F (1 scatter, 1 fluorescence)
For instrumentation R&D
Fully open source, using external detectors and lab electronics:
- Amplified photodiode: Thorlabs PDA10A for FSC
- Photomultiplier tube module: Hamamatsu H10723 for Fl
- Picoscope 5000-Series: for data acquisition
- Lab pump controllers and power supplies
Yes, we know 1F is pushing the definition of spectral! But you can mount the fluorescence detector at any wavelength of your choice within the array (500 – 850 nm). This model is intended to demonstrate the principles of cytometry instrumentation rather than as a workhorse instrument.
Cytkit 2S-14F (2 scatter, 14 fluorescence)
For cytometrists, biologists, educators, enthusiasts
Available as a complete kit (to launch Q3 2026):
- All mechanical parts, all optical parts, all fluidic parts, all electronic parts
- Integrated electronics set comprises:
- 2x amplified photodiode boards for FSC / SSC
- 1x silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array for fluorescence with 14x SiPM chips, analog amplification, gain control and temperature standardisation
- 1x main board, with digital electronics, signal processing, USB communications, pump controllers, fan controller, pressure sensor, laser and safety interlock controller, display controller, power supplies
- alignment camera, connectors, OLED display, ancillary components
- Provide your own host PC (Windows / Mac / Linux) to interface Cytkit to Honeychrome for data acquisition and analysis
This is the product that we believe will be truly practical as a personal spectral cytometer. Build it yourself (including alignment and testing) in approx 8 hours.
Safety first
The Cytkit design contains a visible laser diode with power around 25 mW. This is hazardous to the eyes (laser safety Class 3B). It is strenuously recommended to have laser safety training before building a Cytkit.
The assembly instructions contain recommended procedures for working with the laser safely.
The Cytkit model 2S-14F electronics kit includes safety interlocks to immediately cut off the laser if the cover is removed.
Design
Vitally, the open-source design includes the spectral cytometry optical model, (in open-source software: FreeCAD with Optical Workbench) to enable users to understand, maintain and customise this instrument.
- Cytometry spec: 1 x 488-nm laser, can mount various detectors for scatter and fluorescence
- 3D-printed mechanics, optics, fluidics and electronics + cross-platform open source software for your host PC. Instructions for assembly/alignment/configuration/usage
- Positive-displacement sample pump for absolute volumetric cell counting
- Performance (sensitivity, precision, linear range) comparable to leading commercial flow cytometers, at a fraction of the price
Open Source
Repo: https://github.com/salmansamson/cytkit
Contains: mechanical design, STL files for 3D printing, optical model, bill of materials with component sources
We support open source science!
The design of the Cytkit cytometer is released as open source under the CERN-OHL-2-S license. You can build your own and source all the parts separately! All mechanical parts can be 3D-printed using a consumer FDM printer. All optical and fluidic parts can be obtained from common sources. The assembled electronics hardware (detector PCBs + cytometer control and data acquisition PCB) will also be available for purchase separately from the cytometer kit. However, the cheapest way to own a Cytkit is to buy the kit from us.
You are welcome to study and modify this design. You may also manufacture and distribute new products based on it on condition that you release derivative designs under the same open source license.
Contact us if you require a different type of licence.
Data
Example panel: GFP, FITC, Alexa Fluor 532, PE, StarBright Blue 615, Real Blue 613, PE-Fire 640, PerCP, BB700, PerCP-eFluor 7AAD, 710, PE-Cy7High sensitivity, precision and linear range
