Frequently Asked Questions, Cell Line Deposit

Why should I deposit my cell line in a cell bank?

There are several good reasons to deposit cell lines in a repository such as CellBank Australia. Repositories worldwide act to minimise culture contamination and promote best practice in culture handling. For depositors who would like their cell lines to be used by other research laboratories, this means that cell lines will be authenticated and otherwise tested before being sent out, a service that may be difficult for research laboratories to offer on their own. Cell lines will also be stored securely, and this can be regarded as a backup to the depositor’s own storage system; cells can be accessed from the repository’s storage, at a discount, at any time in the future.

The formal process of cell line deposit and distribution also offers other safeguards. The legal agreements required for deposit and transfer of cell lines mean that conditions are placed on the use of their cell lines; for example, transfer agreements involving CellBank Australia specifically exclude their use in patients and do not allow their use in commercial applications unless permission is first sought from the depositor.
None of the cell lines deposited with CellBank Australia are used for profit. The aim of the cell bank is to make it easier for these cultures to be accessed by scientific laboratories. In the long run, this produces optimal use of the cell line, which hopefully will benefit both the depositor and the research community.

What cell lines can be deposited?

CellBank Australia routinely accepts cell lines from any mammalian species or tissue of origin. To make the cell line useful for others, we do ask for some degree of characterisation e.g the cell line should express markers that are consistent with the tissue of origin. Cell lines where this information has been published are particularly useful for other research groups.

We do not normally accept stem cells, which require specific expertise available elsewhere in Australia. Only cell lines to PC2 level containment can be received and grown.

The depositor must be able to authorise distribution of the cell line e.g. the depositor may be its originator, or an individual or institution with the rights to intellectual property for the cell line. CellBank Australia is unable to accept cultures that have been accessed from third parties unless all relevant parties consent to their distribution.

What do I need to do to deposit a cell line?

There are three steps to complete before a cell line is deposited:

1. Complete a Deposit Query
The deposit query form gathers together enough information to allow the repository to make a decision on whether the cell line is appropriate for its collection. For example, it confirms that the cell line can be handled at PC2 level.

2. Complete an Accession form
The accession form requests further specific information on the cell line. Much of this information would be quoted in the catalogue entry for the cell line when it is released on the repository’s website.

3. Agree to and sign a Material Deposit Agreement (MDA)
The MDA sets out the specific rights and responsibilities in regard to the cell line for both the depositor and the repository. The MDA is signed by either the originator of the cell line or an approved representative of their institution, and by an approved representative of the repository.

Once these forms have been filled out, we will contact you to discuss specific requirements for your cells and how they should be shipped. You are also very welcome to contact us before you fill out any of these forms so that we can answer any specific queries.

Shipping time and requirements

Shipping requirements depend on your location and the cells themselves. For example, if your cell line has been genetically modified during establishment, it should be shipped as a genetically modified organism (GMO) using specific labels and packaging to fulfil IATA and OGTR requirements.

We ask all customers to supply two separate samples to us. Our preference is for two vials from the same passage frozen on dry ice, with the amount of dry ice depending on the distance and time taken in shipping. One of the two vials is normally held for testing if any problems are noted following their receipt by the repository. It may be possible to ship flasks, but we ask that you confirm this with us before the samples are sent.

If your cells are coming to us from outside Australia, you will need to send them with a valid import permit and a customs declaration. We would be happy to assist you with this process.

Please let us know when you are ready to ship any samples so we can confirm that we have appropriate reagents prepared for them. It would be helpful if you are able to give us the tracking number from the courier used so that we can monitor their shipment. We will contact you to confirm their safe arrival, and also subsequently with the results of our initial quality control.

What does this cost the depositor?

Normally we would ask depositors within Australia to pay the shipping price for any cells you wish to deposit with us. Please let us know if such a payment is a financial difficulty for you.

What happens to my cells after they have been deposited?

Cell lines undergo an initial quarantine period in which they undergo quality control testing and in which their behaviour in culture is documented. Quality control testing includes:

1. Mycoplasma testing using two separate methods. The first is a biochemical assay available as a commercial kit, and the second is an in-house PCR assay. Two methods allow for detection of a greater number of Mycoplasma species at higher sensitivity. Any discrepancies between the two methods are resolved by enrichment on an indicator cell line and DAPI staining.

2. Cell line identification. Human cell lines are assessed by short tandem repeat profiling, while non-human cell lines are examined by PCR for aldolase A. Ambiguous results from the latter are resolved using cytogenetic analysis.

3. Viability testing for frozen vials. Individual vials from all freezedowns are plated and their viability assessed 24 hours after cryopreservation.

After completion of the quarantine process, cells in culture are frozen down and a second bank of vials is prepared for distribution. The entire process normally takes 2-3 months. Once this is completed the cell line is entered within the cell bank’s catalogue and will be available for others to purchase.

How do I access my deposits?

All cell lines for distribution will be listed in the CellBank Australia catalogue, which will be located online. The CellBank Australia catalogue is still in development but should be completed in the second half of 2007. If you wish to purchase vials of your own cell line, they can be made available to depositors at a significant discount. Please either contact us directly to discuss this or request a quote on the website when this is available.

How are others charged for my deposit, and am I able to regulate their access?

CellBank Australia is a not-for-profit facility operated by the Children’s Medical Research Institute at Westmead, N.S.W.  Cell line sales will be used only to cover the cost of ongoing operations for the repository. Any cell lines received by us for deposit will be used only for that purpose, and will be made available to any researcher on request provided they pay a set purchase price and are willing to agree to the terms and conditions of use set out within the Material Transfer Agreement.

Both Deposit and Transfer Agreements state that cell lines are not to be used in humans or for associated purposes, including diagnostic testing. Any commercial applications must be referred directly to the depositor for approval. Apart from these restrictions, neither the repository nor the depositor can regulate the research community’s access to their cell lines.