We are planning to purchase a benchtop flow cytometer (cell analyzer) that has good and reliable performance and easy/simple maintenance. Please advise.
My personal favorites are BD FCM MelodyBD FCM Melody (https://www.bdbiosciences.com/en-us)or Beckman's CYTOFLEX.
I don't recommend the small SONY benchtop ones, as they are multi-laser but on the same axis, which can make it difficult to interpret the fluorescence correction. Despite the fact that I am Japanese.
If you need just a basic cytometer (like 2/3 laser and 6/10 colors) then Beckman Coulters navios is a good, BD's accury is fine, Thermo's Attune is better as its flow rate is best.
So your choice of flowcytometer purchase is depend upon certain factors: