Synopsis: Cell Culture Clinic
To work in cell culture laboratory means a sizable amount of time is dedicated to making sure the cells are growing
optimally. One of the biggest challenges is maintaining a sterile environment so that the cells are not contaminated by
the usual suspects like bacteria, viruses, yeasts and the much dreaded mycoplasma. But what more dreadful is the
cross contamination among cell lines. The consequences of not recognizing this particular contamination comes with
wasted resources, time and damaged reputation.
Then there is the challenge of actually doing the cell culture work itself – proper handling, transferring and incubation ofthe cells especially when the throughput is high or when working with multiple cell lines. And it does not end there. There is a constant need to monitor the cell growth under the microscope after culturing the cells. Even that may not be so straightforward when you find yourself having to adjust the focus regularly because the cells are growing on an uneven surface or when there seems to be a black shadow formed around the focus area. The latter could be because of the meniscus forming around the wells of a plate. This is no doubt an endless cycle that you may or may not go through on daily basis.
So can life be made easier in a cell culture laboratory? The answer is definitely yes and this seminar serves to address
these challenges and the possible ways to minimize them so that the overall experience is not only effective and
efficient but also a lot more pleasant.