Off-site Storage of Cell Lines to Maintain Integrity
Cell lines are likely to suffer undesirable outcomes like senescence, genetic drift, and microbial contamination. Sometimes, even a well-equipped lab can experience equipment failure. Considering the value of an established cell line, replacements can be time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, labs mitigate risk by storing these cells in off-site facilities where they can be frozen down for long-term storage. This article describes how off-site cell line storage maintains integrity to ensure the safety and accuracy of critical cell lines.
The advantage of having an off-site location that is distant from your main storage facility can impact your ability to recover operations after natural disasters. Weather-related power outages or property destruction can have catastrophic impacts on your company’s research and product development progress. By creating diffuse redundancy in your storage, your organization can be positioned to recover from challenging situations.
What Does Proper Cell Line Storage Entail?
Off site cell storage methods focus on maintaining the integrity of cells within a freezing medium at extremely low temperatures. Cryoprotective agents are added to protect cell lines, preventing damage to the cells in the cooling and warming process. Cell vials are placed in special storage systems like ultra-low freezers and liquid nitrogen-cooled dewars during this process.
Where are these Cell Lines Used?
- Cell biology research
- Cell therapy
- Clinical trials
- Stem cell storage
Process of Cryopreservation
Cryopreservation uses liquid nitrogen to store products in lower temperatures, down to -196°C. Such temperatures slow down the biochemical processes in the cells to prevent damage and cell death. In addition, a slow, cryoprotectant-assisted freezing process can control freezing speed and prevent the development of damaging ice crystals.
