Should I chuck my competent cells? probably contaminated.. - (Nov/13/2008 )
Hey, I just started my PhD. I'm having somewhat of a difficult time because although I have worked in a lab before but I was always shown how to do a protocol before I attempted it on my own, and also a lot of the techniques we used were different. Anyway, so I was making some electrocompetent cells today and the protocol said... transfer culture to ice-water bath. I put the culture into centrifuge tubes but some of the ice water got into one of the tubes. I carried on anyway, and one of my lab mates said don't worry, but I am worrying! Quite a lot of water got in. Do you think they are badly contaminated. Should I throw them away? Any advice is appreciated, thanks.
The usual rule is "If in doubt, throw them out" If you are worried that they are contaminated and it might affect your work, then it is best not to use them.
Absolutely.
True that. i wonder how that could happen... u know.. the ice water going in.
Well,
If you are the next Alexander Fleming by all means continue using the cells alongside a positively contamination-free control and see what happens.......
You'll never know.......