Cell banks and culture collections
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Cell banks and culture collections are the most reliable sources for purchasing cell lines and reference cultures. They are the preferable source when compared to acquiring cell lines from other collaborative other labs as you can avoid many problems such as mycoplasma contamination and cross contamination. However, cell banks and culture collections also make mistakes! Therefore, always additionally, check cells for sterility and for important industrial or pharmaceutical contaminants. Moreover test identity yourself or use an independent contractor.
Several cell banks also offer additional services such as STR analysis for cell line identification and authentication, mycoplasma testing or karyotyping. When purchasing new cells, it is also a good idea to compare data and protocols given by different culture collections. Often, protocols differ and special "need-to-knows" may be listed by only one supplier but not the others.
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ECACC
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European collection of cell cultures. + Human and animal cell lines, hybridomas, mycoplasmas, fungi, bacteria. + ECACC truly promotes cell line authentication. + Link to the list of crosscontaminated cell lines by + Offers cell line authentication by PCR and mycoplasma testing (PCR (reasearch level), DNA and culture isolation: FDA approved or Eu. Pharm conformity). ECACC website or purchase via Sigma Aldrich or the australian cell bank. |
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Cell Bank Australia
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Australian Collection of cell lines. They also offer all ECACC cell lines. + Human and animal cell lines and hybridomas. + Cell Bank Australia truely promotes cell line authentification. + Link to the list of crosscontaminated cell lines by
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DSMZLeibnitz Institut- Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH (formerly only: Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH). + Information about contaminations in general. + DSMZ tested their own stocks and published a list of misidentified lines. - List now only available by e-mail request via DSMZ web site.
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ATCC
American type culture collection
(Distributed in Europe by: lgcstandards-atcc.org)
+ Large culture collection with micrographs of cell lines.
+ ATCC strains for QC listed in pharmacopoeias.
- Does not openly inform customers about their own cross contaminated strains.
- ATCC states to be a non-profit organisation. However LGC-Standards clearly is not!
- More often than other banks ATCC promotes products for marketing reasons rather than truely informing the customer.