Ca2+ or no Ca2+ in FACS medium? - discussion (Dec/22/2004 )

Hi guys, I just find out that people in the lab are using different HBSS for FACS medium. I am using the one without Ca2+ to help cells dissociating, but some of them said that Ca2+ is critical for antiboy binding. So far, I don't have any problems on my FLOW analysis. What do ya think?

We use PBS w/o Ca2++ plus either 1% FBS (which I'm sure will have some Ca2++ in it) or BSA (which should not) and we have never had a problem.