I'm having a similar problem. I buy in dmem, the cells look good but the media changed colour to pinkish purple within hours. It looked a bit cloudy but I couldnt see anything unusual under the microscope and the cells are growing well (MDCK cells). I removed the media, washed the cellsseveraltimes with PBS, replaced the mediaandagain after afew hours colour changed. Ive never seen this before, co2 fine as is the incubator water level
Any ideas?
Have you checked the actual CO2 concentration inside the incubator and are not just going by what the display says? I had the same problem of the media turning purple and the cause was the CO2 concentration inside the chamber was not 5% although the display said it was 5%.
Good Luck!
Hi,
The color in media comes from phenol red which is an indicator for ph (and is added for that reason). A change of color indicates primarily a change of ph, regardless if that comes from lack of co2 in the incubator, or some component in the medium. Could it be that you are adding something to the medium? Otherwise my guess is also co2.
because of CO2 as it changes the PH of the media then it turned the color to purple as it become darker
I think it is great finding to rise your score with strange questions - you really do not know that - or you testing system??
Of course I`m testig the system Vladimir, triple points available. The answer is its black current juice not media
If it's not the CO2 then the cap thing is the next most common, and can even be if you get the filter wet, of if the neck is wet when you've loosened it on a non-filter cap.
Hi Mark,
Have you tried to fill an empty cell culture dish (i.e no cells) with DMEM and put it in the same incubator as the Caco.
Then if it turns purple, the problem comes from the atmosphere otherwise the problem comes from the cell culture.
Remark: In case you would also use supplement in your media, you could do the same test with your supplements.
If the ells are in good condition, purple media could be due to the bottle/ tube not properly capped .
DMEM media formulation ( 3,64 gm NaHCO3/ liter) is for 10 % CO2 incubator.
Buy DMEM powder and add 2,2 g. NaHCO3/liter as for aMEM, MEM, RPMI...
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