The CF-1 Fraction Collector, a laboratory workhorse.

CellCultureChat.com:   The Answers for All of Your Cell Culture Questions.


Close MessageUserDate(yyyy-mm-dd)
Previous Subject
Next Subject 		Help! Incubator problems...I thinkEli2007-11-05Click here to register.
Our cultured cells are suddenly plating at lower efficiencies and growing slower than previously. Incubators have been cleaned, no overt contamination or mycoplasm, it affects all cell lines (growing primarily human fibros or glioblastomas), also put different filters in the incubator to filter organic solvents. This happened several months ago and went away (after cleaning etc.), but the cause remained a mystery. I can't have this keep popping up, any suggestions are welcome. Thanks so much.
 
Re: Help! Incubator problems...I think
lubrol2007-11-06Click here to register.
Eli;

If you use a CO2 tank on your incubator, when was it last changed and when was that in relation to the growth problems. Also, is the CO2 Medical grade or industrial grade. It has been documented that the industrial grades can have various contaminants that can slow/stop cell growth. The cleaning of the incubator in the first instance may have helped by removing a semi-volatile contaminant whereas this latter instance the contaminant may be different and cleaning does not remove it.
The other thing to check is if the thermostat is still functioning properly in the incubator. It may have been failing for some time and have finally stopped maintaining the appropriate temperature regardless of what any readout might indicate.

Hope this helps.

Lubrol
 
Re: Help! Incubator problems...I think
Eli2007-11-06Click here to register.
Industrial grade CO2!!! Thanks so much, checked the thermostat to death so I know that is not it. Hope this is the culprit.

Eli
 
Re: Help! Incubator problems...I think
JAR2007-11-07Click here to register.
I had a pharmaceutical customer last month who was using industrial grade CO2 and it turned out to be toxic to all of their cells.
John
 
Re: Help! Incubator problems...I think
trish2007-11-07Click here to register.
The biggest difference in Industrial Grade and Medical Grade gasses is the testing to make sure that there isn't something in the tank that shouldn't be there. The contaminants are most often products from the pumps that fill the tanks or the generators that make the gasses...which means that they are oftem petroleum based. The petroleum based contaminants seem to stick to everything and are not very water soluble. If I suspect that I have a contaminant I change all of the filters and wash everything down with strong deteregent and alcohol.

To try to prevent the problem (and I always have some wise guy facilities person who wants to save money and thinks that switching to industrial gasses won't be an issue) I put a filter in-line that removes the oil based products. I use one made by a company called Balston...they are sold by Cole-Parmer.

Good luck,
Trish

Thanks for visiting.
  • To ask or answer a question, you need to register here.
  • You can browse by clicking on a message subject to see the complete message.
  • If you have previously registered, you can log in below.

Message (click on a subject to view the messages)
Click for older messages
OlderOlder LastOldest
Click for newer messages
NewestFirst LastNewer
Search for messages that contain  

You must register before asking a question or providing an answer.
You can click here to register. If you have already registered you can log in below.
(If you check the Use Cookies box then your computer will remember your log in name.)
User Name:
Password:


Click here if you previously registered and remember your user name but not your password.
Email us at cccc@lplc.com if you are having other problems.


Back to Top
All the Perl that's Practical to Extract and Report