Flow Cytometry Experiment Design Software - Compare Networks

Chromocyte is a specialist online resource designed to help researchers plan and run better flow cytometry experiments. Inflecto worked with Professor Graham Pockley (University of Sheffield) to turn the original concept into a scalable, global platform — combining reagent search, experiment design, education, and community support in one place.

The result is a trusted tool used by researchers and organisations worldwide, supporting both academic and commercial users.

The challenge

Flow cytometry experiment design can be complex and time-consuming. Researchers need to select the right antibodies and controls, ensure compatibility with available instruments, and locate reagents that are actually in stock — often across multiple suppliers.

Chromocyte needed to:

• Provide a reliable way to search reagents across multiple suppliers at once
• Surface current availability information
• Help researchers design experiments tailored to equipment available at their institution
• Guide users to the right combinations of antibodies and control reagents
• Offer training, resources, and a place for researchers to share knowledge and troubleshoot
• Include a strong CMS so content and sponsor information could be updated quickly without developer involvement
• Evolve over time as the platform and user base grew

What we delivered

A multi-supplier reagent search platform

Inflecto built a website that simultaneously interrogates the product catalogues of multiple reagent suppliers, providing up-to-date information on reagent availability and helping researchers compare options quickly.

Experiment design tailored to real equipment

Chromocyte includes a section for designing experiments based on the flow cytometry equipment available at the user’s institution. The platform supports researchers in identifying:

• Appropriate antibody combinations
• Control reagents
• Which suppliers can provide the required reagents

All delivered through an interface designed to be intuitive for busy research environments.

Education, community and supporting resources

Alongside the experiment planning tools, Chromocyte provides:

• A portal to other online flow cytometry resources
• A unique educational and interactive communication environment
• Training access, shared tips, and online troubleshooting to help researchers learn and collaborate

CMS for rapid updates and sponsor responsiveness

A particularly strong element of the platform is the Content Management System (CMS), enabling the Chromocyte team to add, remove, and update content quickly. This improved responsiveness to sponsors and helped support the commercial model around the platform.

Outcome and ongoing evolution

• Launched July 2010, with early recognition
  Chromocyte went live in July 2010 and Professor Pockley won an award as Chromocyte became one of the most successful projects in the Yorkshire Enterprise Fellowship scheme.
• Global usage and consistent traffic
  The website has a global profile and receives 10,000+ page views every month, with visitors from leading universities around the world.
• Commercial adoption
  Chromocyte has attracted leading pharmaceutical companies as customers, providing a unique and targeted advertising opportunity.
• Instrument configuration feature (2012)
  We added functionality for labs worldwide to store their flow cytometry instrument configurations online and print an accompanying poster with a barcode. This enables labs to jump straight into experiment design using preconfigured instrument parameters.
• Major redevelopment (2019)
  Inflecto re-developed Chromocyte using modern technologies, optimised how reagents are managed internally, and ensured the platform works well on any device.
• Acquisition by Compare Networks (2021–2025)
  In 2021, chromocyte.com and flowcytometryjobs.com were acquired by Compare Networks (San Francisco). Inflecto worked with Compare Networks to maintain the site until 2025 when the site was decommissioned.