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Identification TestingWhen a researcher decides to use a new cell line, you choose that cell line for a reason. It may come from a particular species or tissue, or produce a particular protein, and therefore it is important that the cell line you use is correctly identified. Unfortunately, this may not always be the case. Cross-contamination of one cell line with another, resulting in mistaken identity, is a known hazard of cell culture. First publicised in connection with the HeLa cell line in the 1970s, cross-contamination was recently estimated to affect 18-36% of existing cell lines (Lacroix 2008, Int J Cancer 122:1).
The risks of mistaken cell line identity can be reduced by handling cell lines in accordance with good cell culture practice, and by obtaining cell lines from repositories that perform quality control to minimise these risks. However, you may wish to check cell lines that you have already used in your experiments to confirm that they match other stocks of that cell line held elsewhere. For human cell lines, accurate identification is now possible by taking advantage of techniques used within the field of forensic testing.
Human samples can be identified using short tandem repeat (STR) profiling, which examines specific loci for nucleotide repeats. STR profiling has been extensively tested and validated for forensic use, and is recommended as the gold standard for identification of human cell lines. CellBank Australia performs STR profiling routinely on human cell lines cultured at the facility, using the AmpFLSTR® Identifiler® kit from Applied Biosystems. We offer this testing as a service for laboratories wishing to confirm the identities of their human cell lines. |
Further InformationTest results for cell lines can sometimes be difficult to interpret because of genetic drift with passage. The facility recently presented a poster on interpretation of STR results at the Australasian Biospecimen Network 2008 conference, and was fortunate to receive a prize for best poster. To view the poster presentation, please click here.
To download a copy of our Identification Request for Analysis form, including instructions for sample preparation, please click here.
For service prices, please click here. |
ReferencesMasters JR et al (2001) Short tandem repeat profiling provides an international reference standard for human cell lines. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 98: 8012-8017 [journal site].
Parson W et al (2005) Cancer cell line identification by short tandem repeat profiling: power and limitations. FASEB J 19: 434-436 [journal site].
Collins PJ et al (2004) Developmental validation of a single-tube amplification of the 13 CODIS STR loci, D2S1338, D19S433, and amelogenin: the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit. J Forensic Sci 49: 1265-1277 [PMID 15568700].
ATCC STR database (short tandem repeat profiles for ATCC cell lines),
http://www.atcc.org/CulturesandProducts/CellBiology/STRProfileDatabase/tabid/174/Default.aspx
JCRB STR results (short tandem repeat profiles for JCRB cell lines),
http://cellbank.nibio.go.jp/cellbank_e.html
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