STERILITY AND FERTILITY TESTING OF BROTHS

LABORATORY PROCEDURES FOR ANIMAL & HUMAN CELL LINES

Appendix

REFERENCE NO: AHC/1998/3/1.2 Appendix 5

TITLE: STERILITY AND FERTILITY TESTING OF BROTHS

INTRODUCTION

Cell culture media is tested before use for the presence of microbial contamination. This is carried out by inoculating broths which are able to support the growth of a wide range of microbes. It is important to test each batch of broths to ensure its ability to support microbial growth.

PROCEDURE

Identify the relevant batches of thioglycollate or TSB broths.

Take at random, 20 bottles from each batch of TSBs. Check Thioglycollates are not oxidised (should be golden colour and ideally have narrow pink ring at top). Then select 20 bottles for QC tests.

Fill in QC of prepared medium forms (see AHC/1998/3/1.2 Appendix 2).

Take broths from 2 and request forms to Microbial QC Section, who test for sterility and fertility.

Store broths - label as results pending and batch numbers.

If broths have passed tests, label as batch passed. If broths fail test, discard batch and order new batch(s) immediately and repeat test.

Guidelines prepared for CABRI by CERDIC, DSMZ, ECACC, INRC, November 1998
Page layout by CERDIC
Copyright CABRI, 1998

© The CABRI Consortium 1999 - 2023
This work cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the CABRI consortium.
Site maintained by Paolo Romano. Last revised on February 2023.