Professional technology integration to support the entire R&D process

The issue of misidentified cell lines has existed for over 50 years. Analyses based on international cell banks show that the rate of misidentified cell lines was 35% in 1984 and 18% in 1999. Even in recent years, the need to authenticate cell lines used in biomedical research remains largely overlooked.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that STR (Short Tandem Repeat) profiling is one of the most effective and accurate methods for detecting cross-contamination and verifying the identity of cell lines. The use of STR profiling for cell authentication is strongly recommended by authoritative institutions such as ATCC. Cell banks including the ATCC (USA), DSMZ (Germany), and JCRB (Japan) provide reference STR profiles for a wide range of cell lines to facilitate accurate comparison and verification.

STR (Short Tandem Repeat) loci consist of short, tandemly repeated DNA sequences, typically 3–7 base pairs in length, which are widely distributed throughout the human genome. These highly polymorphic sequences serve as unique genetic markers, effectively functioning as a “DNA fingerprint” for each cell line, and can be analyzed using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

Alleles at each STR locus are distinguished based on the number of repeat units within the amplified region. Following capillary electrophoresis, the amplified fragments are detected using fluorescence-based methods. The resulting STR profiles are then compared against reference databases of authenticated cell lines using established computational algorithms, enabling the identification of the sample’s cell line or detection of potential cross-contamination.

1.Sample Requirements

• DNA samples: Genomic DNA with A260/A280 ratio of 1.8–2.0, concentration 50 ng/µL, volume 20 µL.
• Cell samples: ≥10⁶ cells, centrifuged to collect the pellet.
• Note: Samples must be transported under low-temperature conditions to preserve integrity.

2. DNA Extraction

3.STR Locus Amplification

20 STR loci are amplified using fluorescently labeled PCR primers.

4.STR Genotyping

PCR products are analyzed by capillary electrophoresis on an ABI 3730XL sequencer to generate the STR genotype profile.

5.STR Database Comparison

The resulting STR profile is compared against reference cell line databases, including ATCC (USA), DSMZ (Germany), and JCRB (Japan), to identify the cell line or detect potential cross-contamination.