I want a Help regarding contamination - (Oct/23/2008 )
I" a new researcher and I want to learn how I can avoid contamination during my work on cell culture.
I have a contamination many time. lost cell lines and waste the materials
Can I find any help.
Thanks
Hi
Just make sure everything you're using is sterile - i.e. pipettes, media etc. Don't touch pipette tips to exposed surfaces - assume everything in your hood is not sterile.
What specifically are you having problems with? Do your cells become contaiminated after you split them, or after you add something (transfection reagent etc)? Or are your cells contaminated before splitting? - because in that case your stock may be contaminated.
Go and do a bit of reading about aseptic technique. You could search this forum for previous posts on the topic, as it has been covered extensively. Posts by people such as rhombus are the ones to pay particular attention to.
Alternatively you could have someone with experience watch you work a few times to give you some tips, and also to see if they can pick up on where you are going wrong.
Good luck
I have a contamination many time. lost cell lines and waste the materials
Can I find any help.
Thanks
I did have a big problem too. Its good to know that you want to read and discuss to avoid contamination. Yes I completely agree with "lauralee", there are plenty good disscussions in this forum. Click here to see one of those examples.
Enjoy practicing aseptic techniques !
Thapa
I have a contamination many time. lost cell lines and waste the materials
Can I find any help.
Thanks
I did have a big problem too. Its good to know that you want to read and discuss to avoid contamination. Yes I completely agree with "lauralee", there are plenty good disscussions in this forum. Click here to see one of those examples.
Enjoy practicing aseptic techniques !
Thapa
hi!!!
i had this problem when i started working with cells.
So you may sure that everything you are using in the culture is sterile. a good cleaning in the hood with ethanol 70 before starting working is good. Turn UV on about 15 minutes before working. Put all your things in the hood and turn the UV on, Falcon tubes, eppendorfs, pippets, flasks(with no cells sure!) except media, tripsin, flasks with cells antibiotics and other things that can be damaged by UV. keep ethanol 70 in the hood wash your hands constantly when you are working. Use gloves and spray a little ethanol 70.
Manipulation is the biggest source of contamination, but following this tips will help you, and believe me i still have sometimes contamination in my cells....
Best
Reis V.P.