Question

How can I preserve cell viability during sorting, and are there ways to improve it?

Answer

Samples should be kept in a nutrient-rich medium for the specific cell type.

For eukaryotic cells, it is advisable to add serum proteins, but without exceeding a concentration of 2–3%, as a high serum content in the sample may compromise sorting accuracy.
For eukaryotic cell lines and adherent cells, adding 0.5 mM EDTA is recommended. For particularly sticky cells, the concentration can be increased up to 5 mM.
For sterile sorting, the addition of antibiotics is recommended. It can also be helpful to include 25 mM HEPES at pH 7.0.
Collection tubes should contain a high serum concentration (30%), as this will be diluted by the sheath fluid carried by the sorted droplets.

Processing the cells immediately after sorting helps maintain their viability.