Supplement 2 to the WHO Polio Laboratory Manual Adaptation of newly received cells to local conditions

Critical steps in assuring quality cell cultures and reproducibility of cell line stocks occur at the time of receipt of new cultures in the laboratory and establishment of a frozen cell bank. Experiences in the Global Polio Laboratory Network (GPLN) suggest that several factors can affect the adaptation of newly received cells to the local conditions of the laboratory. These include differences in cell culture conditions that exist between the source and the recipient laboratory (e.g. media composition, culture vessels and type of incubator), transportation conditions (e.g. temperature fluctuation, mishandling), presence of contaminants, regimen for medium replenishment, and techniques for cell handling. For successful adaptation of the cells, it is important that the recipient laboratory has information, as specified in Section S2.1 below, about the cells it receives so that there can be a systematic approach to troubleshooting should problems occur. Information should be kept on file for future reference with the date received. The details of observations and procedures carried out during the cell adaptation process should be recorded, as they are generated, and archived for future reference.