Guidance

Culture collections

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) culture collections offer a range of products and services for medical science and laboratory healthcare use.

UKHSA maintains 4 collections of preserved, authenticated cell lines and microbial strains for use in medical science and laboratory healthcare.

All the collections are developed, managed and maintained by highly trained staff who work in accordance with internationally recognised quality standards including certification to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17025:2017.

Cultures from the collections are used by scientists who need to reassure themselves and others that the materials they are using are authentic, so the conclusions to their studies are valid and relevant.

The collections

The 4 collections are:

Products

UKHSA culture collections offer:

  • bacteria and mycoplasmas
  • bacteriophage
  • cell lines and hybridomas, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
  • viruses
  • irradiated viruses
  • fungi
  • DNA

Services

UKHSA culture collections offer:

  • cell line authentication services
  • contract cell culture
  • DNA extraction
  • RNA extraction
  • human genetic services
  • mycoplasma testing
  • sterility testing
  • contract freeze-drying
  • catalogue deposits
  • patent deposits
  • safe deposits
  • training courses

For more information on the products and services available, visit the culture collections website.

Contact

Culture collections

UK Health Security Agency
National Infection Service, Porton Down
Salisbury
SP4 0JG

Email culturecollections@ukhsa.gov.uk

Telephone 01980 612 512

Updates to this page

Published 31 July 2014
Last updated 27 July 2023 + show all updates
  1. Removed RNA and cDNA from list of products, and added irradiated viruses.

  2. Updated list of products and services.

  3. First published.

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