We require Feedback data from clients of the NIH Tetramer Facility because it helps us spot problems with reagents we provide and guides our efforts to improve reagent quality. All data provided to us is regarded as confidential and is stored in a secure database.

For the feedback data you submit to be most useful to us, we ask that you try to follow these guidelines:

  1. All data should be provided in a single PDF file.
  • We require PDFs because it streamlines our review process.

Please include the Task Order Numbers of the tetramer reagents on each figure. Please keep your figures as simple as possible and provide only enough data to demonstrate that the tetramers are working optimally (or not), along with controls. In most cases, 1-3 bivariate FACS plots should be sufficient.

  • Please let us know if the tetramers have been carefully titered, but please do not include data plots from the entire titration curve.
  • Please indicate the titer at which you have used the reagents.

The following plots are usually the most informative to us:

  • For class I tetramers
    • CD8 vs tetramer on cells that are gated as lymphocytes or as CD3+ lymphocytes.
    • An activation or memory marker vs tetramer on cells gated on CD8+ lymphocytes (a CD3 gate can also be used).
    • One class I tetramer versus a second one, either of the same specificity in a different color or of a different specificity.
  • For class II tetramers
    • CD4 vs tetramer on cells that are gated as lymphocytes or as CD3+ lymphocytes.
    • An activation or memory marker vs tetramer on cells gated on CD4+ lymphocytes (a CD3 gate can also be used).
    • One class II tetramer versus a second one, either of the same specificity in a different color or of a different specificity.
  • For non-classical tetramers (e.g. CD1d, MR1, etc)
    • CD3 vs tetramer on lymphocyte-gated cells
    • CD161 vs tetramer on CD3+ lymphocytes

When providing feedback for multiple reagents tested in a single experiment:

  • Please provide a clean and well-labeled panel.
  • The same file can be submitted for each separate reagent.