Aseptic technique

Keeping and using sterile containers, media and reagents is crucial for successful cell culture, as this helps to maintain the cells free from contamination. Airborne particles that carry microorganisms, dirty incubators and work surfaces are all sources of biological contamination by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

For this reason, employing the aseptic technique provides a barrier between the sterile cells that we wish to culture and the environmental microorganisms that may contaminate them. It consists of a set of procedures that reduce the probability of contamination from these sources. There are four key elements to the aseptic technique: keeping the work areas sterile, good personal hygiene, sterile reagents and media, and sterile handling.