Managing Sterility in Animal Cell Culture Laboratory

Abstract

Animal cell culture is the complex process by which cells are grown under controlled conditions. A successful cell culture profoundly depends on protecting the cells from exposure to all sources of biological contamination caused by various microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and viruses; non-sterile supplies, media, and reagents; unclean incubators; and unclean work surfaces. Therefore, it is very much essential that all the procedures in culturing animal cells should be carried out using aseptic or sterile rooms providing a suitable environment. It also mandates the practice of basic aseptic techniques such as ensuring that the work area is clear, cleaning regularly with 70% ethanol, good personal hygiene, sterile reagents and media and sterile handling and all the equipment to be used are sterilised. These aseptic techniques are premeditated to provide a barricade between the microorganisms in the environment and the sterile cell culture that intend to reduce the probability of contamination from various sources. Therefore, managing a good aseptic environment in an animal cell culture laboratory is a mandatory as well as good practice to master the maintenance of cultured cells. This chapter discusses different aseptic techniques that are designed to manage sterility in animal cell culture laboratories.