Cell Culture

Cell culture is a core strength, and provides the technical base for most downstream assays in virology and serology.

Facilities:
Our current cell culture suite is maintained under constant positive pressure, and is equipped with Class ll biological safety cabinets, fridges, freezers and incubators with and without CO2 atmospheres. A cell banking system uses two liquid nitrogen tanks, maintained in separate rooms for security.

Staff:
Cell culture is managed on a day-to-day basis by a cell culture manager responsible to the Laboratory Manager. A total of 7 staff are trained to work in the unit, of whom 3 are graduate scientists who have been trained at the European Collection of Cell Cultures at CAMR, Salisbury. The routine demand for cell culture achieved Biobest requires approximately 2 FTE staff allocation.

Cells:
All cells are cultured without the use of antibiotics, using a variety of media with additives and serum-free media as appropriate. All cells are tested for Mycoplasma quarterly by both fluorescent Hoechst stain and PCR. We have 16 mammalian cell lines of which half are used weekly, semi-continuous cell lines from cattle, primary cells from various species prepared as appropriate, and murine hybridomas. We propagate equine bone marrow-derived stem cells for a commercial company.

(Vetcell - The leading provider of stem cell technology to the world of animal health)

Cell culture performance tests:

Tests for cloning efficiency, plating efficiency and growth promotion of serum batches are performed on behalf of a commercial client.