Fungal contamination in cell lines! - (Mar/28/2008 )

Hi all,

I am working with T98G and HCT116 cell lines. While observing under the microscope, I found small filamentous structures in the flask with T98G cells. I feel they must be some kind of fungi. Also I suspect that the incubator might have got contaminated by this by now. Could anyone please tell me how I can cure the cell line? Also what is the proper procedure to disinfect the incubator! Any suggestion could be of great help!

Thank you.

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no cure - just kill

vircon after a quick spray with 70% alcohol should sort out the incubator

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Dear "square",

It has been my experience that fungal contaminations originate from the poor aseptic technique performed by the researcher and NOT directly from the incubator. The fungal spores only take hold in an incubator when media has not been removed from the outside of dishes, plates and flasks. We have incubators that have not been on a decontamination cycle for over a year, although they are used daily.
I totally agree with Dominic, if they are a commercial cell line, then chuck them away and start again. Clean the inside of the incubator CAREFULLY with Virkon (1%) and IMS (70%). Then if it has a decontamination cycle, use that x 2.

You can go through all this BUT if the culturists do not change their habits, the contamination will only come back.

Regards

Rhombus

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