I cultured the Hela cell line for anticancer testing of a plant extract. On the 3rd day of subculture and changing the media, the cell culture showed that the DMEM medium was cloudy and looked like small particles when observed with an inverted microscope at 40X (as seen in the attached picture). What do you think contaminated the HeLa culture cells? Has anyone experienced the same as me?
Hello Harto Widodo
Whenever I come across such a situation (media turning cloudy), I doubt bacterial contamination, and without wasting much time I confirm by streaking a few microlitres of the culture on LB agar plate (already prepared and stored in the refrigerator at 4°C. They are stored upside down with the agar on the roof of the plate), and leaving the plate at 37 degrees C overnight. If bacterial colonies are found on the plate the next day, it means presence of bacterial contamination.
So, you too need to streak a few microlitres of this so-called contaminated Hela culture on LB agar plate and confirm for yourself whether the contamination is bacterial. In a similar manner check for contamination in the DMEM media as well.
Best.
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