WiCell Logo
Your Lab Partner®
Close menu Open menu

WICELL FAQS

STEM CELL BANK FAQs

1.   How do I order stem cells?
2.   What if my company is a "For Profit" company?
3.   What agreement(s) do I need to complete for my stem cell request?
4.   How much do the cells cost?
5.   How do I pay for the cells?
6.   How will the cells be shipped?
7.   Who do I contact if I have questions about my order?
8.   What if I am ordering a cell line I have received previously from the WiCell Stem Cell Bank?
9.   What technical support is available once I have my cells?
10. Where can I find a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for my cells?
11. Your product information (CoA) says to use Matrigel. Matrigel is not available, can I use another Matrix?
12. May I obtain your cells from a fellow researcher or university?
13. Are human ES cells from the WiCell Stem Cell Bank NIH approved?
14. Are there any restrictions on research that can be conducted with stem cells?
15. Are there any restrictions on patenting or publishing discoveries made with the WiCell Stem Cell Bank's Stem Cells?
16. I want to make a product or therapy from a discovery using the WiCell Stem Cell Bank's Stem Cells. What do I need?

CHARACTERIZATION FAQs
 

17. Is the request for information form confidential?
18. What cell types do you accept?
19. Do you accept cancer lines for testing?
20. What species do you work with?
21. How do I get shipping supplies?
22. How do I prepare my cells for shipping?
23. How will I receive test results?
24. When can I expect my report?
25. Can I receive expedited results?
26. Can I access test results via the internet?
27. Who has access to my test results?
28. How do I interpret my karyotype results?
29. What is the significance of a recurrent abnormality?
30. What is the difference between counted/analyzed/karyogrammed cells?
31. What is a non-clonal finding on a chromosome analysis report?
32. What information does WiCell retain?
33. Does WiCell share its customer lists with its affiliates?
34. What are the requirements to send DNA?
35. What is the sensitivity of g-banded karyotyping to abnormal mosaicism?



1. How do I order stem cells?

Academic and nonprofit organizations may order stem cell lines online through their WiCell Account.
  • From the home page, select 'Stem Cells' and then 'Catalog of Stem Cell Lines'
  • Select the applicable criteria desired in your line of interest and select `Show me the matching cell lines`. A listing of cell lines matching your selected criteria will be displayed. From the listing of cell lines displayed, you may select individual cell lines to open the cell line `Product Information Page`. Here you will find further details about the selected cell line.
  • Alternatively, if you know the cell line you would like to receive, you may use the search bar at the top of the page. Enter the name of the cell line and select the cell line of interest from the search results displayed. This will open the cell line `Product Information Page`.
  • To add a cell line to your cart, indicate whether or not you have received this cell line previously, select your preferred culture platform (if applicable), select your preferred quantity, and then select Add to Cart; If you would like to request additional cell lines, select Continue Shopping.
  • Once all desired cell lines have been added to your cart, Click on the cart and select `Start Checkout`.
  • If you do not have an account, you will be prompted to create an account to complete your order.
  • Once your initial order is placed, you will be sent an email containing and links to the specific documents that must be completed and returned to complete the processing of your order. WiCell distributes stem cells from a wide variety of providers, and the links provided are specific to the particular cell line(s) that you have ordered.
    • Complete the checklist and all of the associated documents. Depending on the cell lines you have ordered, you may have the MOU-SLA or an MTA, and possibly ancillary documents. Please follow the specific instructions for obtaining signatures for each document.
      • MOU agreements are signed by someone who is authorized to sign on behalf of your institution (usually the tech transfer office or the legal department) and are NOT signed by the PI of the laboratory.
      • SLA agreements are signed by the PI of the laboratory ordering cells and by someone who is authorized to sign on behalf of your institution (usually the tech transfer office or the legal department).
      • MTA documents are signed by the PI of the laboratory ordering cells and by someone who is authorized to sign on behalf of your institution (usually the tech transfer office or the legal department).
      • Additional documents are to be signed as indicated on the specific document.
    • Remit the signed agreements to the WiCell Stem Cell Bank's Contract Manager. Instructions to remit are on the coversheet of the agreement(s).
  • The WiCell Stem Cell Bank's Contract Manager will update your order when the agreements are received for processing and you will receive a status email. When the agreements are fully executed by WiCell, and the invoiced amount for your order is received, a PDF copy of the executed original(s) will be emailed to the PI and the technology transfer contact.
  • Once payment is processed, a WiCell Stem Cell Bank team member will confirm your address and arrange shipment of the cells to your laboratory. Stem cells are shipped within 10 working days after all necessary documents are executed, payment is received and shipping information is confirmed.

back to top

2. What if my company is a 'For Profit' company?

Additional licenses and/or agreements may be required, and different fees may apply. Contact [email protected] for more information.

back to top

3. What agreement(s) do I need to complete my stem cell request?

A link to the required agreement(s) for the cell line(s) ordered will be included with the WiCell Stem Cell Bank order acknowledgement email. Ancillary agreements may also be required for specific cell lines and will be provided by the Contracts Manager at the time the cell line is ordered. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

back to top

4. How much do the cells cost?

Exact transfer fee pricing for each cell line is available by selecting your line(s) of interest from the Order Stem Cell Lines page. If you wish to order three or more vials of the same cell line, a discount is automatically applied to your cart at check out.

back to top

5. How do I pay for the cells?

WiCell Stem Cell Bank's Contract Manger will email an invoice. The following payment methods can be used:
  • Credit card (MasterCard, Visa or American Express)
  • Contact [email protected] for information on remitting credit card information
  • Wire transfer
  • Check
Checks may be mailed to:
Contract Manager
WiCell Research Institute
P.O. Box 7365
Madison, WI 53707
Unfortunately, we cannot accept purchase orders as a form of payment for orders of cells from the stem cell bank at this time.

back to top

6. How will the cells be shipped?

To assure that cells retain quality throughout the shipping process, WiCell uses only vapor shippers for cell transport. Shippers are qualified to ensure that they maintain a temperature below -150° C for a minimum of 10 days to ensure cells will arrive safely, even if delayed in transit. We do not ship cells on dry ice.

The vapor shippers are reusable and must be returned. Shipping costs are calculated to include delivery of cells as well as return of the reusable shipper. Return instructions and waybill will be provided with the shipment, and can be found inside the shipper upon delivery.

Domestic shipments (within the United States only) will be shipped via UPS. For international shipments, we will evaluate several couriers and ship via the most cost-effective and reliable option.
Please contact us at [email protected] for an estimate of shipping costs.

back to top

7. Who do I contact if I have questions about my order?

Any questions related to cell line orders can be directed to [email protected]

back to top

8. What if I am ordering a cell line I have received previously from the WiCell Stem Cell Bank?

Please order online using the process outlined above. When asked "Have you received this cell line previously?" respond "yes". You will not need to complete new agreements for previously ordered cell lines.

back to top

9. What technical support is available once I have my cells?

WiCell's technical support team is available to assist you and answer questions regarding your cultures. Please use the Stem Cell Technical Support page to contact our team. We are committed to answering every request within one business day.

back to top

10. Where can I find a copy of the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for my cells?

The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is included with each shipment of cells. An electronic copy can be downloaded here.

back to top

11. Your product information (CoA) says to use Matrigel. Matrigel is not available, can I use another Matrix?

Yes, Matrigel is a Basement Membrane Extract (BME) and equivalent BMEs include Cultrex and Geltrex. We have found the Cultrex can be used interchangeably in our protocols with Matrigel. Use of Geltrex, however would need to be optimized to suit your application. Alternatively, some cultures will work with Vitronectin, Laminin, or other protein matrices, but may need ROCK inhibitors for attachment. We suggest you test any matrix for support prior to your experiments or use a Human PSC qualified product.

back to top

12. May I obtain your cells from a fellow researcher or university?

Some, but not all, lines may be transferred with authorization from the original provider if each researcher and institution have executed the appropriate agreements and have remitted a transfer fee. Certain agreements prevent researchers, universities or core facilities from transferring cells to third parties. Please contact us at [email protected] for further information.

back to top

13. Are human ES cells from the WiCell Stem Cell Bank NIH approved?

Many, but not all, of the human ES cell lines available through the WiCell Stem Cell Bank are eligible for use in federally funded research in the U.S. Please see the NIH Approved Collection for a complete list of NIH-approved human ES cell lines available from the WiCell Stem Cell Bank. Please see grants.nih.gov/stem_cells/registry/current.htm for a current list of stem cell lines eligible for NIH funding. The NIH does not evaluate iPS cells for approval for research funding.

back to top

14. Are there any restrictions on research that can be conducted with stem cells?

Yes, generally there are some restrictions on research that may be conducted with human ES and iPS cells obtained from the WiCell Stem Cell Bank. Restrictions may differ between cell lines, and the cell line owners/providers are responsible for defining the restrictions specific to their cells. The restrictions are clearly identified in the documents (MOU-SLA, MTA and/or additional documents) that correspond to a specific cell line.

back to top

15. Are there restrictions on patenting or publishing discoveries made with the WiCell Stem Cell Bank's stem cells?

No. Investigators are free to patent and publish discoveries made during their research using the WiCell Stem Cell Bank's stem cells. If you want to commercialize your discovery, however, you may need a commercial license. Please contact [email protected] if you have any additional questions in this area.

back to top

16. I want to make a product or therapy from a discovery using the WiCell Stem Cell Bank's stem cells. What do I need?

Please contact us at [email protected] and your request will be forwarded to a contact at the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). The staff will help you determine if you need a commercial license and discuss the appropriate next steps.

back to top

17. Is the request for information form confidential?

Yes. WiCell Cytogenetics Laboratory staff reviews the request for information form in order to provide information to you. We do retain the information submitted by our customers for our records, but do not share it with any third parties.

back to top

18. What cell types do you accept?

  • Adipose Derived Cells
  • Cardiomyocytes
  • ES
  • Endothelial
  • Epiblast/Epithelial
  • Fibroblasts
  • iPS
  • MSC
  • NSC/NPC
  • Retinal Pigmented Epithelium
  • Cancer lines (upon discussion) 

back to top

19. Do you accept cancer lines for testing?

We may accept cancer lines depending on the workload of the lab and the complexity of the lines. Please contact us before sending any cancer lines. Please also note that the turnaround times will be longer to due the complexity of testing cancer lines.

back to top

20. What species do you work with?

  • Human
  • Mouse
  • Chimpanzee
  • Macaque (rhesus)
  • Pig
  • Baboon
  • Other species may be accepted with prior approval
back to top

21. How do I get shipping supplies?

Email [email protected] with your shipping address and we will send boxes and shipping instructions to you.

back to top

22. How do I prepare my cells for shipping?

Please see our Sample Submission Instructions page for complete instructions for shipping your cells.

back to top

23. How will I receive my test results?

Test results are delivered via WiCell Cloud, WiCell's private and secure characterization report delivery system. When services are requested you will receive an activation email to set up your WiCell Cloud account and a notification will be sent to you when your new test reports are uploaded.

back to top

24. When can I expect my report?

Our turnaround time is typically anywhere between 5-21 days based on the assay that is being completed. Please see our Characterization Testing Information flyer for information specific to your assay.

back to top

25. Can I receive expedited results?

Yes, expedited results is available for Karyotype.  An extra fee will apply and results will be available within 6-7 days.

back to top

26. Can I access my results via the internet?

Yes. Test results are sent via the WiCell Cloud, a private and secure online system developed in collaboration with Citrix. An account will be created for you and you will be sent activation information when your first test results are ready.   

back to top

27. Who has access to my test results?

WiCell Cloud customer accounts are set up using the email address provided by customer requesting the test, but no one else will have access to data. Customers have the ability to add other colleagues to their folder if they would like. WiCell Characterization staff has access to the samples and information provided for the sole purpose of conducting the requested tests. The test data results acquired from tested samples may, however, be compiled with other test data for scientific research and reporting. In that case, all identifiers capable of linking a customer with specific test data would be removed to ensure the anonymity of the customer, their samples, and results. Customers may opt out of having their anonymous data used in the above manner by notifying us in writing.

back to top

28. How do I interpret my karyotype results?

Please follow this link for help interpreting your karyotype results.

back to top

29. What is the significance of a recurrent abnormality?

Please see our recurrent abnormality page.

back to top

30. What is the difference between counted/analyzed/karyogrammed cells?

Please follow this link for help interpreting your karyotype results.

back to top

31. What is a non-clonal finding on a chromosome analysis report?

  • The ISCN (International System for Human Cytogenomic Nomenclature) defines a clone as two or more cells that exhibit the same whole chromosome gain or structural change or if the change is a whole chromosome loss, then at least three cells must show the loss for it to be considered clonal. Non-clonal findings are changes that do not meet these requirements (typically single-cell findings).
  • The reason for these standards is that the preparation of the metaphase spreads is subject to a certain amount of technical artifact (e.g. chromosomes blowing out from one metaphase spread, and possibly into another). We list non-clonal findings to make you aware that we did see a cell with some change, but that change has not (and maybe will not) rise to the level of something that would then make the karyotype abnormal. Please note that we do not list non-clonal whole chromosome loss in the reports, as we generally regard it as technical artifact unless it rises to a clonal level (three or more cells).
  • In cases of abnormalities that are reported to be recurrently acquired in stem cells (e.g. extra chromosome 8, 12, 20 etc.) we will examine an additional twenty cells to detect low-level mosaicism.

back to top

32. What information does WiCell retain?

WiCell Cytogenetics Laboratory keeps all information regarding customer samples such as cell type, passage, type of media used to culture the cells, and the final test results and analysis. In addition to the extent that there is material remaining from the tested sample, WiCell Cytogenetics Laboratory maintains it in storage.

back to top

33. Does WiCell share its customer list with its affiliates?

No. The identity of WiCell Cytogenetics Laboratory customers is kept confidential.

back to top

34. What are the requirements to send DNA?

Please see the DNA shipping instructions found on our Sample Submission Instructions page. 

back to top

35. What is the sensitivity of g-banded karyotyping to abnormal mosaicism?

Please the Exclusion of chromosomal mosaicism article for information.  

back to top