Q. Does the PRIME-XV XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red work with bioreactors other than the Quantum cell expansion system bioreactor?

A. PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red has been successfully used to expand MSCs in the Quantum system bioreactor. It may be used in other compatible hollow fiber bioreactors. However, this will need to be evaluated by the end user.

Q. Is PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red serum-free, xeno-free, and Animal Component Free (ACF)?

A. PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red is serum- and xeno-free; however, it does contain some human-derived components and therefore is not ACF.

Q. What are the components of PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit?

A. PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit contains either PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Base with Phenol Red or PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Base without Phenol Red, and PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Supplement.

Q. Does the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit come with or without phenol red?

A. Yes, the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit can be purchased with or without phenol red. The catalog number for the kit with phenol red is 91149DC, and the catalog number for the kit without phenol red is 91214DC.

Q. Can the components of the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red be purchased individually?

A. No, both components need to be purchased together as a kit.

Q. How is the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit shipped?

A. The two kit components are shipped in separate shipping boxes. PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Base is shipped at 2-8°C. The PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Supplement is shipped at -20°C.

Q. Are there additional shipping costs for PRIME-XV MSX XSFM Dual Component Kit? How and when will the frozen portion arrive?

A. The PRIME-XV MSX XSFM Dual Component Kit price does not include shipping charges. PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component base medium and frozen supplement are shipped separately in respective containers, and may arrive on the same day depending on domestic and international transit processes.

Q. Does the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red contain any antibiotics? Can antibiotics be added?

A. No, there are no antibiotics in the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red. Antibiotics can be added.

Q. Does the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red contain a stable form of L-glutamine?

A. Yes, the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red contains a stable form of L-glutamine.

Q. Can PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red be used to culture cells without an attachment substrate?

A. It is highly recommended to use a coating substrate when culturing cells with the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red. In-house experiments have demonstrated higher success rate with fibronectin. Unlike serum-containing MSC culture medium, serum-free culture conditions for human MSCs require fibronectin (such as PRIME-XV Human Fibronectin). The PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red can be used to culture cells without an attachment substrate; however, this may result in suboptimal performance, as compared to culturing cells with an attachment substrate. Generally, MSCs at higher passage numbers require an attachment substrate for efficient adherence to the culture vessel. Refer to the bioreactor manufacturer to determine if uncoated data or data with different coating materials can be used.

Q. When plates/flasks with confluent MSC cultures are trypsinized, is it normal to see the cells coming off in sheets, requiring a lot of agitation to fully dislodge the cells?

A. In cultures where the cells are very confluent or in monolayers, they can detach in sheets. For MSCs, it is not recommended to let the cells go above 80% confluency. Dissociation into single cells from very confluent cells may require longer incubation period with the dissociating agent. If the plates are coated with an attachment substrate such as fibronectin, more than five minutes may be required to detach the cells.

Q. Is an adaptation step needed for shifting to the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red if the cells were previously cultured and/or stored in serum-containing media or a different media?

A. No, an adaptation step is not needed for shifting to the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit with or without Phenol Red. It is, however, highly recommended to use an attachment substrate (such as PRIME-XV Human Fibronectin) to promote cell attachment when making the shift.

Q. Can the frozen supplement from the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit accidentally left in the water bath over 2 days still be used?

A. Generally, it is not advisable to use any media or components that have been stored in a manner inconsistent with the recommended storage and handling conditions. The frozen supplement from the PRIME-XV MSC XSFM Dual Component Kit contains growth factors and other sensitive components. Some components can degrade when kept at higher temperatures for extended time periods. This may impact the final media performance. It is best to avoid using a supplement that has been left in the water bath for an extended time. For proper storage and handling, please refer the product IFU (91149DC | 91214DC).

Q. Are there any special handling or thawing recommendations for the frozen supplement bag?

A. The best way to thaw the bag would be overnight at 2-8°C. It is important to avoid excessively bending the frozen bag or the tubing until it thaws, to prevent any breakage.

Q. Upon arrival of the frozen shipment, when does the package need to be moved to freezer?

A. The package should be placed in the freezer as soon as possible after arrival.

Q. If supplement arrives partially thawed but still has ice, is it OK to use? Should I refreeze the supplement or refrigerate and use as soon as possible?

A. It is acceptable to re-freeze the supplement if you are not ready to use, but repeated freeze/thaw cycles are not recommended. It could also be held in the refrigerator, thawed, and used immediately if you are ready to initiate experiments (e.g. if timing works). If the supplement arrived completely thawed, re-freezing may be less effective.

Q. If supplement is thawed in refrigerator overnight, how long can it keep in the refrigerator?

A. It is recommended to initiate supplement thaw no more than 24 hours prior to beginning the experiment, due to the supplement's composition. It does not contain buffers or enough cytokine stabilizers to prevent degradation in a non-frozen setting. Extended storage at 2-8°C will be at the user's own risk.

Q. What is the FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific policy for disclosing formulation information?

A. FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific media formulations are derived from decades of cell culture media experience. The formulations are our intellectual property and must be protected as trade secrets. It is our goal to support the work of our customers, and we will work with our customers to address their formulation disclosure requests. Necessary information will be shared when possible and as appropriate under a non-disclosure agreement. When disclosure is not possible, we will look for alternative ways to support your work. Please contact our technical support team with your formulation requests.