The problem of cell line certification has been around for decades. In 2004, a survey by Buehring et al. showed that only one-third of laboratories identified their own cell identity. In 2007, studies have reported that the proportion of contaminated or misidentified cancer cells used in 20 years is as high as 18% - 36%. Surprisingly, it has recently been reported that in China, the rate of cross-contamination between cells is as high as 25-85%. For more than 60 articles published in Nature journals between 2013 and 2014, only 10% of authors said they have identified cell lines. Even more problematic is that almost one-third of people admit that the cells they use come from another lab. This is a waste of time, effort and money due to the use of cross-contaminated or misidentified cells leading to incorrect conclusions, unrepeatable results, and catastrophic consequences of clinical cell therapy.

Therefore, in recent years, NIH, ATCC, Nature, and Science have repeatedly called for researchers to identify cells. For example, in 2011, the American National Standards Institute issued a national standard for STR identification. In April 2015, Nature notified: Nature's magazine will ask authors to identify the cell lines used in the paper from May; in June 2015 it was reported that a scientist withdrew the Nature paper due to the use of the wrong cell line.

 STR (Short Tandem Repeat) analysis has been applied to cell identification by ICLAC, ATCC and other authorities as a gold standard. Currently, more and more magazines require cell STR analysis data to be submitted at the time of submission.

ATCC (American Standards Collection of Biological Products), the world's most authoritative supplier of biological standards, has more than 20 years of experience in identifying cells with STR. Each batch of cells is identified by STR analysis, cell growth curve, and morphological analysis to ensure correct cell identity and to undergo strict microbial and mycoplasma testing to ensure cell quality.

Recently, the technical services of ATCC STR analysis began to target Chinese customers. If you need this technical service, you can complete the STR analysis in just three easy steps.

• First, the Central Plains company will send the ATCC sample collection kit to your hand.

• Then you don't need to extract genomic DNA. Simply place the cell sample on the FTA card provided in the kit. After air drying, place the FTA card in the ziplock bag provided in the kit to complete the sample collection.

• Finally, you only need to send the sample to the ATCC and you can wait for the ATCC to report it..

For specific operational procedures and price issues for STR Analysis Services, please call the ATCC business in each region:

Beijing 010-84415625

Shanghai 010-84415614

Northern Region and Jiangsu and Zhejiang 010-84415615

Southern region (except Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai) 010-84415670.