What is the purpose of the CometAssay® Control Cells?

The CometAssay Control Cells are designed to help standardize and compare alkaline and neutral electrophoresis methods between individual users and laboratories. The control cells contain known levels of damage.

How should the CometAssay® Control Cells be stored?

The CometAssay Control Cells should be stored in liquid nitrogen. To avoid the accumulation of damage due to freeze thaw cycles, the CometAssay Control Cells should be thawed and frozen in working aliquots. Refer to the CometAssay Control Cells literature for specific instructions.

What cell line is used to generate the CometAssay® Control Cells?

CometAssay Control Cells were prepared using an immortalized human lymphocyte line.

Can the Alkaline CometAssay® Control Cells be used for the Neutral CometAssay?

The Alkaline CometAssay Control Cells were qualified for the Alkaline CometAssay while the Neutral CometAssay Control Cells were qualified for the Neutral CometAssay.

Why is it necessary to rinse the CometAssay® Control Cells in PBS before adding to LMAgarose?

The CometAssay Control Cells must be rinsed in PBS to eliminate media and storage factors that reduce adherence of LMAgarose to the slide. PBS without magnesium should be used, as magnesium stimulates nucleases.

Why don't I see a visible cell pellet after centrifugation of the CometAssay® Control Cells?

A pellet may not be visible after centrifugation due to the low number of cells.

Why are comet tails in positive control cells not present or smaller than expected?

Failure to lyse, denature in alkali, or properly perform electrophoresis may generate poor results. To improve results: Verify lysis of cells. Lysis Solution should be stored long term at room temperature and chilled to 4 °C prior to use. Lysis Solution stored long term at 4 °C will precipitate. Try overnight lysis at 4 °C. Perform alkali denaturation for 20 minutes at room temperature or for at least 1 hour at 4 °C. Prepare Alkaline Solution fresh from sodium hydroxide pellets. Electrophoresis conditions are also critical for optimal performance. Conventional slab gel electrophoresis chambers are not designed to eliminate known causes of comet assay variability (alkaline pH, buffer height, temperature, slide orientation). For optimal results, use a CometAssay Electrophoresis system (Catalog # 4250-050-ES). For insufficient electrophoresis time, increase time up to 1 hour at 4 °C for alkaline electrophoresis.

Why are there comet tails in the healthy CometAssay® Control Cell population?

The CometAssay Control Cells were prepared from an asynchronous cell population with cells at all stages of the cell cycle. Some percentage of the population will be undergoing DNA replication and may have strand breaks at replication forks.Improper storage may also lead to DNA damage. Do not store CometAssay Control Cells at -80°C. Store in aliquots in liquid nitrogen.

Do control cells, Catalog # 4256-010-CC, just need to be put on a slide then stained? Or do they need to be ran through the entire Catalog # 4250-050-K protocol to see comets?

The control cells, Catalog # 4256-010-CC, need to be run through the entire protocol for Catalog # 4250-050-K in order to see comets.

CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

Name: CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells
Brand: R&D Systems
SKU: 4256-010-CC

R&D Systems, part of Bio-Techne | Catalog # 4256-010-CC

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Product Datasheet / COA / SDS

Key Product Details

Features:	Cryopreserved cell preparations contain different levels of DNA damage to be used as controls when performing the comet assay.
Key Benefits:	Provides a range of DNA damage for comparison with statistically distinct populations. Allows for electrophoresis method to be standardized between individual users. Standardized with the CometAssay Electrophoresis System Cell populations remain stable in liquid nitrogen for long term storage.

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Summary for CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

What are CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells?

These cryopreserved cell preparations contain different levels of DNA damage to be used as controls when performing the comet assay. Cells are provided at 5 x 10^5 cells/mL. A healthy control cell population (C0) is treated with a DNA damaging agent to increase the amount of damage in populations C1, C2 and C3, respectively. Etoposide is the damaging agent used for Alkaline Control Cells (CC0-CC3).

Preparation & Storage

Shipping Conditions	The product is shipped with dry ice or equivalent. Upon receipt, store it immediately at the temperature recommended on the product label.
Storage	Store in liquid nitrogen for up to 12 months from the date of receipt.

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CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

R&D Systems, part of Bio-Techne | Catalog # 4256-010-CC

Key Product Details

Summary for CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

What are CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells?

Preparation & Storage

Customer Reviews for CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

FAQs for CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

Product Documents for CometAssay Alkaline Control Cells

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