Application Note: Cell Banking

The cell bank is a critical element of the manufacturing process. Procedures for creating and subsequent use of cell bank repositories are well established and have not changed significantly in years. These procedures often involve significant manual handling with an associated potential for contamination and variation. Furthermore, the time required from cell bank to inoculation of the first bioreactor is significant. It is a period which exposes the inoculum to various potential hazards.

Through the novel use of the ATF&trafe; System, it is possible to achieve a more robust cell bank with significant manufacturing advantages. Cells are rapidly grown to high cell concentrations, then prepared for freezing within the same culture vessel without removal. Cells are dispensed into single-use bags pre-attached to the culture vessel, speeding the creation of a more homogenous cell bank. The need for centrifugation and dilution/concentration is eliminated.