Rates and Fees, FY23

Minimum time charge

Minimum charge, Agilent NovoCyte: 15 minutes

Minimum charge, Cytek Aurora: 15 minutes

Minimum charge, BD FACSAria Fusion: 30 minutes + daily setup/QC fee*

Minimum charge, BD FACSymphony S6: 30 minutes + daily setup/QC fee*

*FACS: Flat daily setup/QC fee = 1.5 labor hours at the applicable rate (charged once per day of use).

Invoicing

              At month end, the hours of time reserved versus the actual hours of time used for each reservation is checked via username and computer software records. The greater of the two will be charged, with reserved but unused time charged at 50% of reserved time. The total amount of time used each month is then listed by user and the invoice will be sent to the users' requested contact (PI or department) for bills at the end of the month.

Booked but unused timed

              No-show or failure to cancel a reservation 24 hours in advance of the scheduled time will result in an 50% charge of reserved time. A full-hour penalty charge will be assessed for unused reservation time more than one hour in duration.

Other fees: after-hours, weekends, overnight, and overtime policies and fees

             Overtime: Please respect others' reservations: If your reserved time slot is immediately followed by a different user's reservation, overtime usage of a machine will result in a full-hour penalty charge.  The penalty is waived if the overtime slot does not have a prior reservation: in that case, regular rates will apply.

             After-Hours: During after-hours access (Mon-Fri after 5pm and all day Sat-Sun), the final scheduled user of the day is responsible for shutting down the machine and computer, even if their appointment is cancelled.

             Overnight; failure to shut down: Users leaving the machine "on" overnight will incur an automatic penalty fee charged to their account, depending on the instrument: $50 NovoCyte, $200 Aurora, $200 FACS sorter. The instrument lasers have a limited operational lifetime, and turning the systems off helps preserve their longevity and maintain reliable performance.

Respect for shared instruments

              The KU Flow Cytometry Core is accessible to all faculty members and affiliated personnel, available on a first-come, first-served basis within the university. To maintain these expensive instruments, it is imperative that all users display good lab citizenship to respect our shared core resources. The Flow Cytometry Core is developing its own set of standard operating procedures, including mandatory training for the operation of specific instruments. Users are expected to comply with any additional instructions provided by the technical staff overseeing the core facility.

             Any damage incurred or malfunctioning of an instrument should be promptly reported to the core staff without delay. Neglecting to do so could exacerbate the damage and lead to increased expenses. Minor damage might be covered by the core facility depending on severity, as costs for regular servicing and repairs are factored into the standard rates, however, damage due to failure to follow protocol may incur penalties. Principal Investigators (PIs) will be responsible for covering significant equipment damage caused by user negligence and will be responsible for covering the associated costs.

              If an instrument is damaged due to a user's failure to follow established operating protocols, the user's principal investigator (PI) will be responsible for the repair costs not covered by service contracts. The technical director will inform the PI of the incident and associated charges.