Entry Level: BioTech

Culturing and Passaging CHO Cells

Simulation vetted by professionals from CMDOs in Greater St Louis and Texas

Simulation Objective:

Calculating Final Cell Density

Associated Simulation Library:

Background

A cell culture lab technician at a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) plays a critical role in the biopharmaceutical production process. Their primary responsibilities revolve around the growing and maintaining cell lines used for producing biologics (e.g., vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and other therapeutic proteins). Cell culture is important to biotechnology as it provides the cells for study and experimentation. Research scientists will use the cells in their experiments and studies. The cells are maintained in the designated incubator.

    • Thawing, Growing, and Cryopreserving Cells: Handle cell lines from thawing frozen cells, growing them in culture flasks or bioreactors, and cryopreserving them for future use.

    • Media Preparation: Prepare and sterilize culture media, ensuring it contains the necessary nutrients and growth factors for optimal cell growth.

    • Cell Health Monitoring: Regularly check cell cultures for signs of contamination, abnormal growth, or other issues. This includes daily observation under a microscope and conducting cell counts.

    • Optimization of Growth Conditions: Adjust parameters such as pH, temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrient concentration to optimize cell growth and productivity.

    • Scaling Up Cultures: Transfer cells from small-scale cultures to larger bioreactors, managing conditions to support large-scale production.

    • Bioreactor Maintenance: Operate and maintain bioreactors, ensuring they are clean, calibrated, and functioning correctly.

    • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and detailed records of all experimental procedures, observations, and results.

    • Data Analysis: Analyze data from cell cultures to assess growth rates, productivity, and other critical parameters. This often involves using software tools and statistical methods.

    • Adhering to SOPs: Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure consistency and compliance with regulatory standards.

    • Contamination Prevention: Implement and adhere to aseptic techniques to prevent contamination of cell cultures.

    • Team Collaboration: Work closely with other technicians, scientists, and engineers to coordinate efforts and share findings.

    • Reporting: Prepare and present reports on cell culture activities, results, and any issues encountered.

Position Overview

Expectations for a Cell Culture Technician

(expand each entry for full definition)

The Process

  1. Preparation and Set Up - Wear appropriate sterile personal protective equipment (PPE) and sterilize workspace and all equipment and materials entering the workspace

  2. Review protocol - read through the SOP and batch record and attain the materials needed and become knowledgeable with the process

  3. Sample Prep - Prepare a sample of the culture for measurement

  4. Measure Cell Density - Take a reading of the culture and determine the culture’s cell density

  5. Perform Dilution - Calculate the amount of culture and media needed to achieve the final density

  6. Perform record keeping throughout

  7. Ensure bioreactor is operating per specifications

Resources

The Exercise

Your role as a lab technician on the bioprocessing team is to maintain the health of the culture. This is a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) environment. GMP is a set of manufacturing guidelines applicable to, but not limited to, biotechnology industry manufacturers to ensure consumer quality and safety.

For this exercise, you will be given the culture’s cell density.  Use this value to calculate the volume of the culture to transfer and the volume of media to add.

Task 1 - Calculate Cell Density

The cell density of the culture was measured to be 8.7 x 10^6 cells/mL. 1 mL was taken from the 200mL of culture for the measurement. Determine the amount of culture to transfer and media to add if the final cell density should be 0.3 x 10^6 cells/mL in 200mL working volume using the formula:

C1V1 = C2V2

Where C1 is the initial concentration (or known cell density), V1 is the amount to transfer, C2 is the target final cell density, and V2 is the final volume.


NOTE: Fill out section 5.1.6 of this batch record example for this task

Deliverables

Task 1

For this job sim, you will complete the calculation (step 5.1.6) and fill out the batch record to perform the dilution.  The batch record will be submitted for review by the supervisor.

Answer key

Additional Tasks

A professional in the field of biomanufacturing may also perform these tasks:

  • Media formulations and preparation

  • Packaging technicians

  • Microscopy

  • Operating bioreactors

  • Quality assurance and Quality control

Skills Used to Perform this Task

  • Accurate pipetting technique

  • Documentation and Data recording

  • Basic math calculation

  • Adhering to guidelines

Skills Used in the Field

  • Aseptic technique

  • Attention to detail

  • Image analysis

  • Data analysis

  • Continuous improvement

  • Communication Skills

  • Problem-Solving Skills

  • Time Management

  • Teamwork and Collaboration

  • Adaptability and Flexibility

  • Integrity

Career Progression

Laboratory Technician > Cell Culture Technician > Research Associate > Cell Culture Specialist > Senior Research Associate > Senior Cell Culture Specialist > Scientist > Senior Scientist

Sample Job Postings

Typical Pay Range $17-20/hr

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Cell Culture Technician | Pay rate: $35-45K

Formulation Technician | Pay rate: $40-50K


Endeavor Consulting Group

Formulation Technician | Pay rate: contract


Washington University in St. Louis

Research Laboratory Technician II | Pay rate: $16.59-24/hr

Sample Job Posting: Cell Culture Technician

The cell culture group is responsible for the development, scale-up, and transfer of cell culture manufacturing processes for the production of biologics in pre-clinical and clinical stages to enable the development of Client's robust pipeline.

  • The candidate will be involved with all aspects of laboratory operations to support cell culture process development at bench scale.

  • Under the supervision of a scientist, the candidate's responsibilities will include:

Bioreactor Support Activities:

  • Support for 100+ 3 L bioreactor systems

  • Setup, calibration, troubleshooting and breakdown/decontamination

  • Track & and perform required maintenance

  • Perform routine sampling of ongoing cultures

Media Preparation Activities:

  • Prepare stock solutions and media preps of c media

  • Filter sterilize and aliquot solutions aseptically

General Lab Support Activities:

  • Inventory, order, receive, and stock appropriate levels of raw materials and lab consumables

  • Perform daily lab equipment calibration/verification checks– including pH meters, cell counters and biochemical analyzers

  • Perform routine lab equipment/glassware cleaning and maintenance activities

  • Data acquisition in paper and electronic systems

Weekend Support Activities:

  • Independently execute weekend requests for sampling and feeding of ongoing cultures

  • Communicate issues to experiment owners and work to resolve issues

Experience:
Years of experience/education and/or certifications required:

  • Bachelor's or Associate's degree in Biology, Biotechnology, or related field + Experience in a laboratory 0-3 years