Cell line misidentification is both a devastating and frighteningly common problem in life science research. One report on the scope of the problem identified 32,755 scientific papers reporting on research using misidentified cells, which were further cited by an estimated 500,000+ more papers.1 According to some reports, as many as one-fifth to one-third of all cell lines may be misidentified or contaminated. The potential consequences of this problem, which include failed experiments and retracted papers – equating to significant losses in time, funds and reputation – should motivate all laboratories and researchers to take every measure to prevent and detect cell line misidentification. Here are some tips to help biological researchers stay vigilant and ensure the integrity of their cell culture experiments:
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