Maintaining cell lines in life sciences and related industries
Overview
This standard covers the skills you need to maintain cell lines using sub-culture or
cryogenic storage. You must work to the relevant standard operating procedures,
legislation and organisational policy.
This involves setting up and growing cell lines in batch, continuous, monolayer or
suspension culture. It includes choosing the required support medium, harvesting
cells, determining cell density and adjusting this for optimum viability after
cryopreservation or further culture work. It is important that your work is done to the
highest quality and accuracy since meeting laboratory targets is essential
After the procedure you must dispose of any waste appropriately, leave your work
area in an acceptable condition and complete all the necessary paperwork and
documentation.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work which
you will undertake with minimum supervision.
1.
Who this standard is for
The standard is recommended for all staff, but particularly more experienced
employees
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 ensure that your work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures
to protect yourself and others
P2 ensure that samples, media and reagents are stored correctly and maintained
at correct temperature during use
P3 harvest and prepare cells according to laboratory procedures
P4 perform cell counts on a cell suspension, ensuring that clumps of cells are
broken up, and adjust the cell count to the pre-determined optimum
P5 prepare the appropriate media and re-suspend cells in accordance with
requirements
P6 transfer cells to appropriate unit/vessel
P7 monitor conditions and cell growth and adjust conditions as required
P8 communicate the required information about the work done, to authorised
people, in accordance with departmental and organisational procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the health and safety requirements of the area in which you are carrying out
the activities
K2 the standard operating procedures, as set down in local laboratory manuals
K3 the limits of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have
problems that you cannot resolve
K4 the types of handling, sorting, recording and tracking system used and the
procedures used for transferring specimens/samples within the laboratory while
undergoing processing
K5 the minimum number/size/volume of laboratory samples required for long term
storage
K6 the range of cell lines and containers used for sample storage and analysis and
other essential resources required for each laboratory investigation
K7 the importance of keeping the work area clean and tidy, and avoiding cross
contamination of samples
K8 the main features of the cell line and the underlying action of the media and
reagents involved in cell adhesion and disruption and the growth of cells in
culture
K9 the main features of the cryopreservation unit or incubating equipment and the
underlying action of the reagents involved in freezing/culturing cells and
reaction mixture/growth media
K10 the function of error messages on the controlled freezing station, and what to
do if an error message is displayed
K11 how to find the correct restart point if the freezing run has stopped before
completion of the operation
K12 the procedures to be followed when dealing with broken or leaking samples
and disposing of harmful materials, chemical and contaminated equipment