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Operator-induced contamination in cell culture systems.

R J Hay1

  • 1American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, MD 20852.

Developments in Biological Standardization
|January 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary

Operator-induced biological contamination in cell cultures, including cross-species and human cell contamination, is a significant issue. Implementing robust characterization and detection methods is crucial for quality assurance and preventing public health hazards.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Virology

Background:

  • Operator-induced contamination in cell cultures poses a multifaceted problem, encompassing cross-species cell contamination, microbial, and viral agents.
  • Detection rates of contaminated cultures can be as high as 36%, with significant proportions attributed to interspecific and intraspecific cross-contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the prevalence and impact of biological contamination in cell cultures.
  • To emphasize the importance of characterization and detection methods for quality assurance and control.
  • To underscore the public health risks associated with viral contamination in cell cultures.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies on animal cell cross-contamination frequencies.
  • Discussion of detection methods for microbial contamination, particularly mycoplasma.
  • Examination of viral contamination risks and documented cases.

Main Results:

  • Interspecific cross-contamination accounts for 25% and human intraspecific contamination for 11% of problem cultures.
  • Mycoplasma infections affect 10% or more of cell cultures, impacting viral studies.
  • Viral contaminants can be introduced via aerosols or contaminated reagents, posing serious public health hazards.

Conclusions:

  • Awareness and application of characterization techniques (e.g., DNA fingerprinting, isoenzyme analysis) are key to controlling contamination.
  • Prescreened reagents, antibiotic-free cultivation, and improved detection methods are vital for preventing mycoplasma infections.
  • Preventive measures are essential to avoid cross-infections and ensure cell culture integrity, especially in research settings with multiple cell lines.

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