Sorting is a complicated art, not just from the point of view of the technology and setup involved, but also in the way that you prepare your cells. What you do to your cells prior to bringing them to the sorter will play a very important role in the success of the sort.

In some ways it is analogous to painting - if you slap some paint over the top of the crumbly old paint in your house, it'll work, but the outcome will be less than satisfactory. However, if you take the time to sand back the old surface, cut in the edges, clean and prepare the surface, you will end up with a paint job that serves you well for a long time. And this theory applies to your sorting. By the time you bring your cells to the sorter, 90% of the hard work should be over.

So what can you do to prepare your cells in the best way? Most of these tips require so little effort you won't even notice that you are doing them, but they will make a world of difference.