Q. How do you ship the cells?
A. All cells will be preserved in specialized cryopreservation media containing 10% DMSO, and then be shipped with dry ice.
Q. What steps should be taken upon receiving cryopreserved cells?
A. Upon receiving the package, to prevent thawing, promptly move the cryopreserved cells from the dry ice shipping container to liquid nitrogen. Avoid storing cells at -20°C or -80°C as this leads to irreversible cell damage.
Q. How do I establish a culture from cryopreserved cells?
A. We provide detailed instructions to each cell product. Please refer to the cell product sheet.
Q. Do I need to spin the cells to remove DMSO when I establish a culture from cryopreserved cells?
A. It is not recommended spin cells to remove DMSO residue. The centrifugation process can potentially harm cells more than the residue itself, especially if excessive speeds are applied. Our experience has shown that cells do not suffer from sufficiently low concentration of DMSO. Please refer to our product instructions for recommended dilution to achieve a final DMSO concentration of less than 0.67% (v/v) by adjusting the seeding density and medium volume. However, the DMSO residual and dead cells should be further removed by the first medium change approximately 16 hours post seeding.
Q: What kind of media should I use for cell culture?
A: Different type/ brand of media may affect the cell growth rate for each cell type. To achieve the optimal cell growth, please refer to the detailed instructions which is provided in each cell product sheet.
Q. What is the difference between primary cells and cell lines?
A. Primary cells are directly derived from living tissue and possess a finite lifespan when cultured in vitro. They are valued for retaining numerous in vivo markers and characteristics. In contrast, a cell line, arising from a population of cells undergoing genetic transformation, offers indefinite growth potential. However, at high passages, genotypic/phenotypic alterations may manifest. Typically, cell lines exhibit differing marker profiles from primary cells and often lack some markers observed in vivo.
Q. What experience is required for working with normal primary cells?
A. Experience with aseptic technique in biosafety cabinet is highly recommended, and it is beneficial to have prior experience working with various cell types. Certainly, Cellalabs can always provide assistance If you are new to cell culture or aiming to set up a cell culture lab.
Q. What type of incubator should I use for culturing primary cells?
A. 37°C, 5% CO2 is recommended for culturing all primary cells from Cellalabs, therefore, any type of incubator that can achieve these settings can be used.
Q. How often should I change the cell culture medium for primary cells?
A. As a general guideline, the medium should be changed every 2 - 3 days, adjusting based on the confluency of the cells. Please see the product sheet for detailed instructions.
Q. How does Cellalabs confirm cell type?
A. At Cellalabs, we adhere rigorously to quality control protocols, ensuring the confirmation of cell types through multiple verification methods. Our quality control not only identify the mophorlogy and also employs immunofluorescence to confirm the presence of specific markers for each cell type, and to detect any contaminating cells as well.
Q. What donor information can I obtain about my lot of cells?
A. We maintain comprehensive records for all our human and animal primary cells. For further details before placing an order, please reach out to our Customer Service team.
Q. Can the primary cells reach 100% purity?
A. Achieving 100% purity with primary cells can be challenging due to potential contamination or variability in cell populations. However, with our advanced purification techniques, we can significantly enhance purity levels.
Q. Is it possible to subculture non-proliferating cells?
A. No, non-proliferating cells cannot be subcultured, such as neurons, microglia, macrophages, and a few others cell types. Please refer to the product sheet.
Q. Can I refreeze the normal primary cells?
A. It is not recommended to refreeze human and animal primary cells from Cellalabs.
