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Cell Banking and Assay-Ready Cells

Research-grade cell banks and ready-to-use vials for reproducible results

Banks and vials made to your specification

We manufacture research-grade cell banks and fill them as cryopreserved vials. Your cells are expanded, frozen under controlled conditions, tested and stored in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen.

The result is standardized material that performs consistently, whether you build a tiered cell bank or need cells that can be used directly after thawing.

Cryogenic storage of cell banks

Two Formats, One Process

Both start from the same expertise in expansion, freezing and storage

Cell Banking
We build tiered cell banks from your cells or from our collection, so that every experiment starts from the same, well-characterized material. Bank types range from the Research Cell Bank to the End-of-Production Cell Bank.
Assay-Ready Cells
Cells banked at a defined concentration and volume that can be used directly after thawing. They remove the preparation work and make assays comparable across runs, laboratories and sites.

Types of Cell Banks

All banks are research-grade

Bank type
Purpose
Research Cell Bank (RCB)
Foundation for the development of a master cell bank. Used for research and development.
Master Cell Bank (MCB)
Created from a well-characterized cell line. The starting point for all working cell banks.
Working Cell Bank (WCB)
Prepared from the MCB by continued subculture. Provides a consistent supply of cells for experiments and production.
End-of-Production Cell Bank (EOP CB)
Prepared from vials of the working cell bank. Serves as a quality reference for future work.

Specifications

Defined volumes and concentrations for reproducible use

Parameter
Specification
Vial size
1 ml as standard, other fill volumes on request
Cell concentration
1 to 10 million cells per ml
Bank size
50 to 1000 vials
Storage
Vapor phase of liquid nitrogen, temperature-monitored
Shipping
Temperature-monitored dry shippers, up to 500 vials per shipment

Quality Testing

Independent testing for every bank

All tests are performed by an independent external laboratory. The standard panel can be extended with custom tests on request.

STR profiling
Confirms the identity of the cell line.
Species verification
Confirms the species of origin.
Virus testing
Screening for viral contamination.
Sterility testing
Confirms the absence of bacterial and fungal contamination.

How It Works

From the first conversation to the finished bank

01
Consultation
We discuss your cell line, bank type, bank size and testing needs.
02
Integration
Send us your cells or select a cell line from our authenticated collection.
03
Production
We expand the cells, fill the vials and freeze them under controlled conditions.
04
Testing
An independent external laboratory tests the bank. Custom tests are possible.
05
Delivery
Vials are stored in liquid nitrogen vapor or shipped in temperature-monitored dry shippers.

Technology and Equipment

Precision at every step

Automated filling
Fill-It by Sartorius Stedim Biotech produces large quantities of cryovials with precision and consistency.
Cell counting
Vi-CELL BLU determines cell numbers and viability reproducibly.
Controlled-rate freezing
CryoMed controlled-rate freezer with a cooling rate of 1 °C per minute.
Large-scale culture
CellSTACK, CellFactory and CELLdisc systems support expansion for high-volume needs.
Long-term storage
Temperature-monitored tanks in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen.

Applications

Bioassays for biologics quality control
Quality control of therapeutic proteins, antibodies and vaccines requires robust bioassays. Standardized cells perform consistently across testing sites and support long-term assay validation.
Drug discovery and high-throughput screening
Cell-based screening needs large quantities of consistent cells. Banked cells separate cell preparation from the screening workflow and increase throughput and reproducibility.

Benefits

Reproducibility and consistency: Standardized cells maintain their genetic and phenotypic characteristics and reduce experimental variability.
Time and cost savings: You avoid repeated cell isolation, expansion and validation steps.
Readily available cells: Authenticated cells are quickly available for studies and screening campaigns.
Scalability: From small banks of 50 vials up to 1000 vials, produced in a controlled batch.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are assay-ready cells?+−
Assay-ready cells are cryopreserved cells banked at a defined volume and concentration. They can be used directly after thawing, which saves preparation time and makes assays more reproducible.
How are the cells stored and shipped?+−
The vials are stored in temperature-monitored tanks in the vapor phase of liquid nitrogen. They are shipped in temperature-monitored dry shippers with up to 500 vials per shipment.
Which industries use assay-ready cells?+−
Assay-ready cells are used in pharmaceutical research, in the cosmetics and food industries, for screening chemical and biological candidates and for verifying the activity of therapeutic proteins and antibodies.
What information do you need to start a project?+−
Please describe the cell line, the desired bank type and bank size, and any custom tests you need. We discuss the details with you in a consultation.

Request a consultation

Tell us about your project

A few details are enough for the first step. Our scientific team reviews your request and gets back to you.

Jannes Steinmann
YOUR CONTACT
Jannes Steinmann
Head of Cell Biology
Request a consultation