Dear all,
I'm culturing several adherent cell lines. Recently, I noticed that I had dot-like particles in my cell cultures that have movement. Cell culture medium does not appear turbid. I suspected FBS contamination, so I started with new cells and a new batch of FBS, but the problem wasn't solved. I have attached the photos.
If anyone knows the problem, please reply.
Thank you so much, all.
Hi,
If you are seeing small dot-like particles with movements, they are contaminants for sure. Media turns turbid when the contamination reaches a very high level. You are probably using some antibiotics for which the contaminants are growing slowly. The contaminants may come from either of the media, FBS, or even the frozen vials. To confirm the source of contamination, you can maintain only media, media+FBS, and FBS separately (without any cell and antibiotic) in your incubator for 3-4 days and see in which case you are getting similar contamination.
Spread about 50ul of FBS on antibiotic-free LB agar plate and incubate at 37°C overnight, if your FBS is contamined, you will see bacteria or fungal colonies.