Knowing the origin of immortalized cell lines is crucial, with an estimated 18-36% of continuous (immortalized) cell lines having been misidentified or contaminated1. This can have a significant impact on the validity of academic research. For example, a recent study showed that, since the mid-1950s, 32,755 articles have reported research using misidentified cells, and these publications were subsequently cited by an estimated half a million other papers, further amplifying the problem2.
Primary cells can be a great solution to the challenges posed by immortalized cell lines, since they are regarded as the most biologically- and physiologically-relevant in vitro models. Some laboratories choose to isolate their own primary cells, but due to the variability among the reagents and protocols used, it can be difficult to compare data over a long-term study or with other research groups. To help laboratories overcome this challenge, we offer a range of both human and animal primary cells of a consistent high quality.
If you’d like to learn more about primary cell cultures, watch our webinar entitled ‘Primary Cell Culture – The Why and How’ or visit our primary cells application page.
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