- What is the price of your cell lines?
Research Only
Academia: 1,000 GBP/vial
Companies (including start-ups): 2,000 GBP/vial
Commercial
Contact info@questmeat.com to discuss licenses and royalties.
- What cells do you have available for purchase?
We offer both primary myosatellites and adipose-derived stem cells from different species: bovine, porcine and water buffalo. Our bovine myosatellites are from different bovine breeds – British Blue, Limousine and Aberdeen Angus and they all have different growth rates, doubling times and differentiation efficiencies. A full breakdown of our current cell offerings is in the Quest Cell Brochure.
- What passage and how many cells are per cryovial?
All Quest cells are sold as cryovials at passage 1 and contain 1 million live cells.
- What information is provided with the Quest cell lines upon purchase?
All Quest cells come with a comprehensive Product Sheet that includes:
- Information on the donor animal (species, breed, sex, age);
- Information on cell morphology;
- A full list of reagents;
- Comprehensive protocols for thawing, cell maintenance, passage, cryopreservation and even differentiation to relevant lineages;
- Serum-based media formulations for cell growth and cell differentiation;
- Growth kinetics data over a minimum of 8 consecutive passages;
- Cell characterization by specific marker expression and/or differentiation towards relevant lineages (myogenic and adipogenic);
- For selected cell lines, validation data for microcarrier culture in small bioreactors is also included.
- Have Quest cells been tested for contaminants?
All Quest cells are negative for bacteria, fungus and mycoplasma. Sterility and mycoplasma testing have been carried out by ECACC Culture Collections within the UK Health Security Agency. Certificates of Analysis can be provided upon request.
- Have Quest cells been tested for species-specific viruses?
Virus testing is not currently standard testing for Quest cells as they are intended for R&D purposes. However, Quest also offers the option for custom made cell banks for which custom testing according to the regulatory requirements is included. This includes species-specific viruses.
- What is the passage limit for Quest cells?
All Quest cell offerings are currently primary, so there is an expected limitation for cumulative population doublings. Growth kinetics over consecutive passages are included in the Product Sheet for all Quest cells. However, most of Quest cells have been successfully cultured beyond passage 15 without reaching senescence.
8. Are the Quest cells suspension adapted and/or immortalised?
Currently, the Quest cell offerings include only primary adherent cells. However, our Quest team is working hard to generate temporary immortalised cell lines that are controllable and safe for consumption.
We are open to producing custom cell lines for customers, which are immortal and/or suspension adapted. To discuss this further please contact info@questmeat.com.
- How pure are your cells and do you use any sorting to obtain pure populations?
We do not sort our cells for several reasons. Unlike for human and mouse cells, there are limited antibodies available that have specificity for cow, pig and water buffalo species that allow for FACS sorting. For cell isolation, Quest uses a perfected proprietary method that targets a specific cell population.
- Have your cells been adapted to serum-free media?
Quest cells have been isolated in serum-based media. However, they can be adapted to serum free conditions. To date, Quest cells have been cultured in several serum-free media formulations including proprietary and commercial ones.
- What is the pluripotency state of Quest cells?
Quest stem cells are either multipotent (adipose-derived stem cells) or unipotent (myosatellites). We do not provide pluripotent stem cells (e.g. embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells).
Our adipose-derived stem cells have been validated for differentiation to the three relevant lineages: osteogenic (bone), adipogenic (fat) and chondrogenic (cartilage). Whereas our muscle-derived stem cells (myosatellites) have been validated for the myogenic lineage differentiation only. Protocols for differentiation alongside cell characterization by specific marker expression (where applicable) are provided upon purchase.
- Are your cells Kosher?
No. Our cells come from animals that have been stunned before slaughter, as is standard practice in the UK.
- How can I order?
Please contact us at info@questmeat.com with the number of vials and type of cells you would like to order alongside your shipping address, and we will be able to provide you with a full quote that also includes the price of shipping door-to-door.
14. Shipping
Shipping Locations: We ship globally.
How will the cells be shipped: Cells will be shipped in cryovials on dry ice.