PROPOSED NEW DATA FILE STANDARD FOR FLOW-CYTOMETRY, VERSION FCS-3.0

In 1984, the first flow cytometry data file format was proposed as Flo w Cytometry Standard 1.0 (FCS1.0). FCS 1.0 provided a uniform file for mat allowing data acquired on one computer to be correctly read and in terpreted on other computers running a variety of operating systems. T hat standard was modified in 1990 and adopted by the Society of Analyt ical Cytology as FCS 2.0. Here, we report on an update of the FCS 2.0 standard which we propose to designate FCS 3.0. We have retained the b asic four segment structure of earlier versions (HEADER, TEXT, DATA an d ANALYSIS) in order to maintain analysis software compatibility, wher e possible. The changes described in this proposal include a method to collect fries larger than 100 megabytes (not possible in earlier vers ions of the standard), the Inclusion of international characters in th e TEXT portions of the file, a method of verifying data integrity usin g a 16-bit cyclic redundancy check, and increased keyword ord support far cluster analysis and time acquisition. This report summarizes the work of the ISAC Data File Standards Committee. The complete and detai led FCS 3.0 standard is available through the ISAC office [Sherwood Gr oup, 60 Revere Drive, Ste 500, Northbrook, IL 60062, phone: (847) 480- 9080 ext. 231, fax: (847) 480-9282, E-mail: isac@sherwood-group.com] o r through the internet at the ISAC WWW site, http://nucleus.immunol.wa shingtsn.edu/ISAC.html. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.