Cell Culture Contamination Prevention

Cell Culture Contamination Prevention Discover valuable tips to help you reduce the risk of contamination in cell culture, focusing on the proper use of lab equipment and consumables. Contamination remains a significant challenge in cell culture laboratories worldwide. Its consequences can be detrimental, leading to wasted time, financial resources, and even compromising the credibility of research laboratories. Maintaining aseptic technique is crucial, but it is equally important to consider the design features of your laboratory equipment and consumables. These factors play a significant role in preventing contamination, allowing you to focus on your work with peace of mind. In this interactive infographic, we delve into the various types of contamination and their potential impact on cell culture. We provide valuable tips to help minimise the risk of contamination and offer guidance on selecting the most suitable lab equipment and consumables throughout the cell culture workflow. 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Prepare Culture Harvest Store Types of contamination How to reduce the risk of contamination in the lab Biological safety cabinets Recommendations: • Turn on 15 minutes before use and start with cleaning worktop with 70% alcohol • Never obstruct the air grill - use slow arm movements and work a few inches inside • Avoid clutter - limit the number of stored objects • Designate clean and dirty zones - work from clean to dirty • Empty biohazard bag containing solid waste as well as any liquid waste daily • Change pipette-aids filters regularly and immediately when wet • Clean up spills immediately • Clean and disinfect after every use including inside walls, under the worktop and inside the glass • Always follow manufacturer recommendations • Program a UV cycle at the end of the day (optional) Recommendations: Shakers • Clean and disinfect often - always follow manufacturer recommendations • Do not forget about corners and external housing, accessories and worktop under the shaker • Use 70% alcohol or 10% or less quaternary ammonium based disinfectant • Remember to always remove any disinfectant residues with 70% alcohol • Choose a shaker with minimal screws and with an easy to remove platform and accessories • Choose a shaker with a sealed design to prevent spills entering the drive • Clean up any spills immediately - if necessary remove platform and clean up the spill from the pan under the platform throughly 1 2 Features which help prevent contamination Filtration devices Recommendations: • Use an asymmetric polyethersulfone (aPES) membrane for most cell culture applications • Consider 0.1 µm devices to reduce risk of mycoplasma contamination • Look for receiver bottles with leak-proof closures • Choose high quality and purity plasticware Recommendations: CO₂ incubators • Pay close attention to water reservoir - change to fresh sterile distilled water weekly • Clean and disinfect inside the chamber, outer housing, top, and door handle often • Always follow manufacturer recommendations • Use 10% or less quaternary ammonium based disinfectant and remember to always remove any residues with 70% alcohol • Check the lab layout for any ceiling air vents blowing directly onto the incubator. Re-direct the air, or reposition the incubator as air ducts can harbour microbial contaminants • Do not store anything on the top of the incubator • Make sure the incubator is on a stand, not dierctly on the floor • Clean up all spills immediately • Use an incubator with a validated design that helps prevent contamination Liquid handling Recommendations: • Consider secure tip attachment pipetting systems and autoclavable pipettes - tips which fall off are a contamination risk • Ensure your pipettes are cleaned daily with emphasis on the tip cones • Consider barrier tips which seal on contact with aerosols and liquid for reduced contamination risk • Choose tips which have been rigorously tested 3 Recommendations: Centrifuges • Clean chamber, rotor, buckets and adapters often • Always follow manufacturer recommendations • Never overfill tubes and ensure no liquid is on the tube threads as can become a source of contamination • Choose a model that allows quick rotor installation and removal • Look for certified biocontainment lids 4 Refrigerators and freezers Recommendations: • Clean cabinet interior and exterior housing often • Do not forget handles, top and floor surface under the equipment • Always follow manufacturer recommendations • Eliminate cardboard storage • Discard old, unused media and reagents • Aliquot reagents and complete media Recommendations: Storage tubes • Choose cryotubes with improved seal integrity • Choose tubes and plates with a Sterility Assurance Level of at least 10-6 • Choose tubes manufactured with high quality material + Features which help prevent contamination Features which help prevent contamination Features which help prevent contamination Features which help prevent contamination Features which help prevent contamination Features which help prevent contamination Features which help prevent contamination For General Laboratory Use. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the performance of the product is suitable for customers’ specific use or application. © 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific and its subsidiaries unless otherwise specified. Request help with you cell culture needs at thermofisher.com/safercells