Cited by 329Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in InsectsMicrobial infections and disease researchIdentification and Quantification in Food

Cross-contamination of cells in culture

Nelson-Rees, W. A., Daniels, D. W., Flandermeyer, R. R.·1981·Science

Abstract

Lists are presented of references to all known publications describing cell properties that serve to characterize (i) known strains of HeLa and purported human cell lines indicted as HeLa contaminants, (ii) strains of human cell lines contaminated with human but non-HeLa cells, and (iii) strains of cells contaminated by cells from one or more other species. Frequencies of cell cross-contaminations are cited and references are presented to relatively simple techniques that could serve to detect such contamination.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1126/science.6451928

Cites

103 of 103 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Despite fifty-five years of attention, CCCM persists, with global rates estimated to be between 14% and 46%.

    “Despite fifty-five years of attention through reviews, letters, calls to action, surveys, and technical innovations [5][6][7][8], cellular cross-contamination and misidentification persist, with global rates estimated to be between 14% and 46%.”
  • Nelson-Rees discovered that HeLa cells had already contaminated over 40 supposedly "unique" cultures, including KB, Chang liver, HEp-2, HBT3, and Intestine 407.

    “He discovered, through analyzing type A mobility for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and the lack of a Y chromosome, that HeLa cells had already contaminated over 40 supposedly “unique” cultures, including those labeled KB (CVCL_0372), Chang liver (CVCL_0238), HEp-2 (CVCL_1906), HBT3 (CVCL_D281), and Intestine 407 (INT407, CVCL_1907) [4,5].”

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Authors
Nelson-Rees, W. A., Daniels, D. W., & Flandermeyer, R. R.
Affiliations
  • Cell Culture Department, University of California, Berkeley, Naval Biosciences Laboratory, Oakland, California 94625
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
Venue
Science
Published
1981-04-24
Volume
212
Issue
4493
Pages
446-452
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
OpenAlex
W1964255717
Cited by
329
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 16
FWCI
0.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Viral Infectious Diseases and Gene Expression in Insects
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Microbial infections and disease research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Identification and Quantification in Food
Keywords
HeLa cells, human cell lines, cell line contamination, contamination detection
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Line, Cells, Cultured, Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase, Humans, Isoenzymes, Karyotyping, Phosphoglucomutase, Species Specificity

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