Short tandem repeat profiling provides an international reference standard for human cell lines

Masters, J. R., Thomson, J. A., Daly-Burns, B., Reid, Y. A., Dirks, W. G., Packer, P., Toji, L. H., Ohno, T., Tanabe, H., Arlett, C. F., Kelland, L. R., Harrison, M., Virmani, A., Ward, T. H., Ayres, K. L. and Debenham, P. G. (2001) Short tandem repeat profiling provides an international reference standard for human cell lines. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 98 (14). pp. 8012-8017. ISSN 0027-8424 doi: 10.1073/pnas.121616198

Abstract/Summary

Cross-contamination between cell lines is a longstanding and frequent cause of scientific misrepresentation. Estimates from national testing services indicate that up to 36% of cell lines are of a different origin or species to that claimed. To test a standard method of cell line authentication, 253 human cell lines from banks and research institutes worldwide were analyzed by short tandem repeat profiling. The short tandem repeat profile is a simple numerical code that is reproducible between laboratories, is inexpensive, and can provide an international reference standard for every cell line. If DNA profiling of cell lines is accepted and demanded internationally, scientific misrepresentation because of cross-contamination can be largely eliminated.