WI 38

Please note: The WI-38 cell line is not available for purchase anymore. Our stock reached senescence and therefore cannot be sold anymore. However, we continue to offer an immortalized variant of this cell line, WI 38VA13 Subline 2RA (Catalog No. 300421).

The WI-38 cell line, derived from the fetal lung tissue of a 3-month-old fetus obtained from an elective abortion in Sweden in 1962, represents a landmark in medical science, particularly in vaccine production. WI-38 cells have played a crucial role in the development of vaccines for a wide array of virus-based infectious diseases, including poliomyelitis, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, herpes zoster, adenovirus, rabies, and Hepatitis A, thereby significantly reducing morbidity associated with these conditions.

Notably, WI-38 cells have been utilized in the production of several key vaccines, such as Merck's rubella and Hepatitis A vaccines, Sanofi Pasteur's Imovax rabies vaccine, and the adenovirus vaccine used by the U.S. military, highlighting their essential role in public health. These cells, characterized by their fibroblast cell type and excellent biocompatibility, offer an optimal environment for the culture of viruses and the production of human virus vaccines.

As a human diploid cell line with a finite lifespan of about 50 population doublings and a doubling time of roughly 24 hours, WI-38 cells have been used extensively in biological research, including the study of cellular aging, cancer, and genetics. WI-38 cells further have been instrumental in the field of virology, particularly in supporting the cultivation and study of human viruses. These cells provide a conducive environment for growing viruses extracted from clinical specimens, which is essential for the development of vaccines and for advancing our understanding of viral behaviors and genetics.

In summary, WI-38 cells, with their extensive applications in vaccine production remain a cornerstone in the field of virology. Their contribution to the development of cell-derived vaccines and the advancement of primary cells in scientific research underscores their invaluable role in enhancing human health worldwide.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.