The Andalusian Health Biobank joins the International Cellular Line Authentication Committee
It will analyze and detect contaminated or misidentified cell lines to guarantee research with all quality guarantees.
Composed of 12 public and private entities, the committee aims to implement a code of good practices
The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia (SSPA) has joined as a collaborating organization to the International Committee for Cellular Line Authentication (ICLAC), made up of only 12 public and private entities from around the world.
The inclusion of the SSPA Biobank in this committee, along with the most prestigious international cell line banks, allows the Andalusian platform to be at the forefront of cell line authentication systems, becoming an international reference in this field, a role that He already works at the National level as Coordinating Node of the National Bank of Cellular Lines.
The implementation of specific methodologies for quality control will also allow the Biobank to improve the portfolio of services it offers from the cell culture unit, improving the quality, safety and traceability of the cell lines, resulting in guarantee research. and quality.
Specifically, among the tasks entrusted to the Biobank is the authentication of cell lines to detect those that are contaminated or misidentified. To authenticate a cell line is to confirm or verify its identity, ensuring that it is derived from the correct species and tissue. This process consists of confirming the identity of each cell line, through genetic analysis of STR fragments (Short Tandem Repeats). Likewise, it will participate in the evaluation of new molecular methodologies for quality control of cell lines and will also provide administrative and digital support to the international committee. Participation in these tasks is possible thanks to the fact that the Biobank has the necessary infrastructure and experience in the analysis of genetic markers.
About ICLAC
The ICLAC is a voluntary and independent scientific committee of experts from different organizations that aims to make the incorrect identification of cell lines visible, highlight the need to perform authentication tests on cell lines and promote awareness of the importance of the use of cell lines correctly identified in the current research.
It was founded in 2012 by the main international cell line banks together with other prestigious scientific and academic organizations. ICLAC has a standard for cell line authentication (https://iclac.org/databases/), and currently manages and publishes an internationally recognized database of more than 400 misidentified cell lines that have been published and used. in research and biopharmaceutical production processes.
About the Biobank
The Biobank of the Public Health System of Andalusia is organized as a network biobank formed by different associated nodes on provincial platforms, linked to health institutions and with a Coordination Node located in Granada. As a network biobank, it constitutes a resource platform that offers all types of biological samples and associated clinical data to researchers. At the same time, the Network of Tissue and Cell Transfusion Centers offers healthcare activity in this area framed in the structure of the Andalusian Health System (SAS).