Cell and Tissue Culture

It is prudent to consider all cell lines to be potentially infectious. Most cell cultures can be safely manipulated using BSL-2 practices and containment.

• If cells are known or suspected to contain a specific pathogen or oncogenic virus, appropriate biosafety practices for handling that virus must be used when working with the cell culture.

• All primary and permanent cell lines must be handled using BSL-2 practices and containment.

• BSL-1 practices and containment may be used for cell lines that meet all of the following criteria. Cells must be

  • non-primate

  • non-human

  • confirmed not to contain a primate virus, pathogenic bacteria, mycoplasma or fungi

  • well-established

• Information on Bloodborne Pathogen Training is available through Learn@ISU.