Biotech Researchers Encouraged to Use New Cell Line Authentication Service

Biotech and life science researchers working with cell cultures are now able to obtain authentication of the identity of the cells by simply mailing in a sample without even the need for dry ice.

The short tandem-repeat profiling (STR profiling) service is offered by the American Type Culture Collection or ATCC (Manassas, VA, USA). STR profiling is a rapid, reproducible, and standardized PCR-based method for the unambiguous identification or authentication of human cell lines with resolution down to the individual donor. As misidentified cell lines continue to plague research, authentication of human cell lines via STR profile analysis is becoming a requirement of many journals and funding agencies.

To make it easier for researchers to document the origin of the cells they are using the ATCC offers two levels of STR profiling analysis. The Basic STR Profiling Service includes a signed Cell Line Authentication Report containing an easy-to-understand STR allele table and electropherograms that support the allele calls at each locus. The Verified STR Profiling Service includes a signed Cell Line Authentication Report containing: easy-to-understand STR allele table, electropherograms that support the allele calls at each locus, known reference profiling against the ATCC STR Profile database, and comprehensive interpretation of the results.

To take advantage of the STR profiling service the researcher first obtains an FTA Sample Collection Kit from the ATCC. The researcher simply applies cells to the FTA card following the instructions supplied with it and then sends the card to the ATCC. The need to ship samples on dry ice is eliminated.

ATCC will amplify the DNA on the card using the Promega (Madison, WI, USA) PowerPlex 16 HS System and analyze the results. Investigators can expect results via e-mail within five days from receipt of their sample at ATCC.

Related Links:
American Type Culture Collection
Promega