A General Guide to Selecting and Setting Up a High Content Imaging Platform

The decision to establish a high content screening (HCS) platform commits significant money and resources. The first steps in creating a system that delivers the expected results are to have a clear idea of who will be using the equipment, and what kinds of experiments they will be performing. This chapter describes several specific functions necessary to set up a functional HCS platform from system evaluation, system installation, system maintenance, and use and training of the image acquisition and analysis software. It presents a brief overview of key hardware choices that need to be considered when choosing a microscope‐based system. The installation and initial training process represents a window of opportunity to work out any issues and to get the operation off to a smooth start. After the system is installed, routine management is the next practical concern.