---
title: Gating strategy for tetramer analysis to eliminate non-specific event
description: While MHC tetramer guided staining of antigen specific T cells for flow cytometry is considered highly specific, it could still be associated with nonspecific staining.
image: https://blog.mblintl.com/hubfs/Gating.png
---

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- Gating strategy for tetramer analysis to eliminate non-specific event

# Gating strategy for tetramer analysis to eliminate non-specific event

### Topics

- Select Topic - 3D Cell Culture Advancements in Metabolism Research Allergy Antibodies Antibody Antibody Reagents Antibody-Peptide Conjugates Apoptosis Assay and Kits Autoimmune Disease Autophagy BRIC Benefits of Tetramer Assays Biomarker Cancer Cell Biology Cell Culture Reagents Cell Stabilization Custom Peptide Synthesis Cytokine Dextramer Staining Drug Discovery ELISA Epigenetics Epitope Tag Exosome Exosomes FCM Fc blocker Flow Cytometry Flow Cytometry Antibodies Fluoppi Fluorescent Proteins Future of Tetramer Technology Gastric Inhibitory Peptide Gene Regulation Gene Therapy Green Fluorescent Protein IL-18 Immune Response Immunology Inflammation Isotype Control Kits and Assays LC3 Liquid Biopsy MHC MHC Alleles MHC Class II Tetramers MHC Peptides Contribute MHC Tetramer MHC Tetramer Protocol MHC tetramer advancements Metabolism Mitophagy NCP Neuroscience Neuroscience Reagents Organoid PCSK9 PCSK9 ELISA Kit Peptide Peptide Exchange Peptide Synthesis Methods Peptide Synthesis Service Peptide-Infused Skin Care Products Preservation Purify exosome Quality Control QuickSwitch Quickswitch™ Custom Tetramer Kits RBP RIP Chip RNA Recombinant Protein Production Recombinant Proteins Regulation RiboTrap S100 Proteins SARS-CoV-2 T-Cell Detection TCR Tetramers Tetramer Tetramer Analysis Tetramer Assay Tetramer Assay Protocol Tetramer Staining TransFix Vectors Western Reagents atg8 covid-19 gfp keima red kinases mitochondria cell death p62 pathways phosphorylation pro IL-18 reagents rfp t cell tuberculosis ultracentrifugation vaccine

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Published by [Wushouer Ouerkaxi, PhD, MD](https://blog.mblintl.com/author/wushouer-ouerkaxi-phd-md) on Nov 14, 2018 1:00:00 PM

![](https://blog.mblintl.com/hubfs/Gating.png)

While MHC tetramer staining of antigen specific T cells for flow cytometry is considered highly specific, it could still be associated with non-specific staining. The gating strategy shown below is an example that investigators have used to reduce non-specific staining events using a dump channel. A dump channel can be planned on a case by case basis, on the experimental design, and consists of a pool of antibodies against cells that do not express our specific targets. For example, CD8+ T cells, anti-CD4/anti-CD14/anti-CD19 may be used to eliminate these immune cells from our targeted gate, and all may be labeled with the same fluorochrome. 

![Gating](https://blog.mblintl.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Gating.png?width=545&name=Gating.png)

At first lymphocytes are gated using forward and side scatter (upper left). Subsequently, single cells are gated using forward scatter height and wide followed by side scatter height and wide (upper middle and right). Live cells are gated using forward scatter area and 7-AAD negative cells (middle left). Next, CD8+ cells are gated using dump channel (CD4, CD14, and CD19) negative and CD3+ cells (middle right). Non peptide-stimulated PBMCs were used to determine the CMV tetramer positive gate. The gate was set on CD8+ cells that are negative in the tetramer channel (lower left). This gate is used to identify CD8+ tetramer+ cells in a CMV peptide stimulated sample (lower right). When you run FCM, don't forget to check area, height and wide of both the forward and side scatter!

Do you have any other questions regarding tetramer staining? MBL International's new Tetramer Staining Guide will help you. The guide contains more than 90 pages of information and includes products and tips for tetramer staining. 

[![Click here to get the staining guide!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/424171/e5f9c208-008e-4e6a-917f-abbeeee1cc4c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/424171/e5f9c208-008e-4e6a-917f-abbeeee1cc4c)  

 

Tags: [Tetramer](https://blog.mblintl.com/topic/tetramer), [Flow Cytometry](https://blog.mblintl.com/topic/flow-cytometry)

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