Suggestions for handling cultures on receipt

Cultures are supplied as flask cultures. The recommended procedure for handling on receipt is as follows :

• Monolayer Cultures : The flask is seeded and completely filled with transport* medium to prevent loss of cells in transit. On receipt, remove most of the medium, except for a sufficient volume to cover the floor of the flask. Augment with serum to the required level of supplementation. Incubate at 37oC until confluency is reached. Sometimes in transit, the cultures may be handled roughly and most of the cells become detached and float in the culture medium. If this has occurred, remove the entire contents of the flask and centrifuge at 300 X g for 15 minutes. Draw off the excess supernatant medium, resuspend the cells in 10 ml of the culture medium and plant the entire cell suspension in a single flask of suitable size (25 cm2).

• Suspension Cultures : The culture flasks have been completely filled with transport medium for shipment. Remove the entire contents of the flask and centrifuge at 300 X g for 15 mins. Resuspend the cell pellet in a complete medium as suggested under the subculture procedure described above.

*For transport medium serum supplementation is at a level of 2 per cent.

Training & Workshops

Training has always been an integral part if the services offered by NCCS. Every year, a two-week training workshop in basic cell culture techniques is conducted by the institute, which is availed of by students, researchers and scientific staff from Universities and research institutions.