The identity and purity of your cell lines are essential to the integrity of your research. Misidentified or contaminated cell lines lead to irreproducible data and costly errors, and without regular cell line authentication you risk wasting time and resources, potentially invalidating years of work.
Regular cell line authentication through STR profiling offers a clear solution to verify cell line identity.
What is STR profiling?
A STR (Short Tandem Repeat) is a small repeating sequence of DNA, and the number of these repeats can vary greatly between individuals. STR analysis examines many different STR repeating sequences and how often they repeat. From this data, a STR profile can be produced for a cell line, determining its individual genetic profile.
A sample STR profile can be compared to a reference database to verify that the sample is from the expected cell line – this is called cell line authentication.
How STR profiling works
The methodology for STR profiling is underpinned by guidelines provided by the International Cell Line Authentication Committee (ICLAC) and the American Type Culture Collection’s (ATCC) ASN-0002-2022 standard.
The preferred method for STR profiling uses capillary electrophoresis:
- Firstly, DNA is extracted from the cell line sample.
- This is then amplified via PCR to create millions of copies for analysis.
- The DNA is then transferred to a genetic analyser to undergo capillary electrophoresis, which measures how long or short each repeating sequence is to create the STR profile.
- The resulting data is then analysed. While recommended profiling relies on a minimum of 13 STR loci, Biofortuna analyses 24 polymorphic STRs, enabling a much higher level of discrimination.
Verifying cell line identity using STR Profiles
The common thresholds for confirming cell line identity and determining the relationship between two profiles are as follows:
- A high percentage match of a cell line sample to the reference profile indicates the cell line is related, thereby authenticating the cell line.
- A moderate percentage match (60-89%) is inconclusive and requires further investigation to determine if the cell line is contaminated.
- A low percentage match indicates the sample is not related to the expected cell line. If the sample matches another line with greater than 80%, then it is a misidentified cell line.
Cell line authentication with Biofortuna
Conducting cell line authentication on a periodic basis is essential to ensure the long-term identity and integrity of your research. With over 30 years of experience and expertise, we deliver a leading service that provides complete confidence in your models:
- Fast turnaround: We offer a 3-5 day turnaround from receipt of your samples at our Deeside-based laboratory, the fastest STR profiling service in the UK.
- Ambient collection: Simplifying logistics and removing the need for costly cold chain transportation, we offer ambient sample collection – simply pipette your sample onto one of our FTA cards and drop it in the post.
- Analysis: While we compare established cell lines with publicly available profiles via recommended databases, we also maintain databases for our customers. This is a bespoke service that enables us to compare cell lines according to their requirements and ensure that we can conduct any comparisons in the future to those that were originally submitted. This unique service allows us to quickly and confidentially compare your current sample against your previous cell lines, providing an essential check against internal cross-contamination and ensuring the consistency and integrity of your research over time .
- Expert review: All STR profiles are reviewed by our team of senior scientists, ensuring accurate interpretation of results and clear guidance when profiles are inconclusive, contaminated, or unexpected. This expert oversight helps you make informed decisions and reduce risk to your research.
Maintaining sample integrity
STR profiling is a non-negotiable action to ensure reproducible, valid research. We understand this importance and are dedicated to simplifying the process, providing a service tailored to you and your cell lines. Biofortuna’s comprehensive service combines fast turnaround times, accurate data and dedicated expertise to safeguard your samples.
Learn more about our cell line authentication service here, or contact a member of our expert team today.
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