MCF-7 cells were already handled perfectly and were good. Currently, we are meeting fungal contamination within the next passage. There are no much possibilities of handling errors as we do have an experienced person, also the cell culture lab is completely fumigated and restarted with a new vial and other cell culture supplements and lab-wares. The cells are good for two days and gets contaminated with only fungi after second day. Any suggestions if any regarding this apart from handling would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Hi,
this sounds terrible. Did you change all cell culture consumables and media to new batches (different charge number)? Is there an air condition system installed in the cell culture lab? Maybe this can be a source of the fungi? Can you give a vial of the cells to another lab to control for possible contamination already in the cell stocks?
Good luck!
I would suggest a housekeeping service for biosafety hood and filter in incubator. Check waterbath too. You can try fungizone too.
I can advice you to clean the hood inside and outside especially under (some projections of media can sitck under the hood because of the garbage. Clean your incubator completely.
Think to change filters from your pipet boy and regularly change the water of waterbath and add decontaminant (or change beads if it's a beads bath).
I hope you'll fix this problem soon.
Can you add Antibiotic-Antimycotic (i.e. Gibco) to your culture media?? This will prevent fungal contamination as well as bacterial.
Thank you everyone for your valuable suggestions. We do have an air condition system, practicing regular house-keeping and using antibiotic-antimycotic (himedia) solution in medium. Yet, will try with your other suggestions. Thank you again
Switching off air conditioning some minutes before and throughout the period of inoculation or sub-culturing of your cell lines would help a lot to reduce dispersal of any fungal spores present in the lab. Movement can also be restricted or work when there are fewer or no persons in the room (early mornings/late nights). Wish you the best.
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