Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Does the ioMicroglia Media Kit contain everything needed to culture ioMicroglia?
The ioMicroglia Media Kit contains the majority of reagents required to culture the ioMicroglia portfolio of products. The following additional components must be purchased separately: ioMicroglia vials, poly-L-lysine (coating reagent), ß-mercaptoethanol, and doxycycline. Recommended suppliers and catalogue numbers can be found in the Media Kit Protocol.
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Which ioMicroglia products are compatible with the media kits?
All ioMicroglia wild-types, disease models, CRISPR-ready and tracker cells can be used with the media kits, view the full list here.
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How long can I store the ioMicroglia Media Kit before use?
The ioMicroglia Media Kit is stable for 6 months from the date of manufacture (DoM) when stored correctly at -20°C or -80°C and unopened. Check the DoM on receipt of the kit and ensure its use within the correct time period.
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Can I use the ioMicroglia Media Kit for co-culture experiments?
The ioMicroglia Media Kit can only be used for monoculture of the ioMicroglia. For co- and tri-culture systems, refer to our validated protocols, which feature specialised media formulations tailored to support those specific cell combinations.
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Which assays have been used to validate the functionality of ioMicroglia when cultured with the ioMicroglia Media Kit?
The functionality of ioMicroglia is evaluated using cytokine release upon stimulation and phagocytosis of bioparticles. Every batch of the ioMicroglia Media Kit undergoes validation using these functional assays to ensure consistent, reliable cell performance.
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How many plates can be cultured with a single ioMicroglia Media Kit?
The plate coverage of the ioMicroglia Media Kit depends on the kit size and the chosen plate format:
Small media kit for use with small vials (>1.5 x 106 cells): Supports the culture of one full 6-, 12-, 24-, 48-, or 96-well plate, OR half (0.5) of a 384-well plate* up to day 10 post-thaw.
Large media kit for use with large vials (>5 x 106 cells): Supports the culture of three full 6- to 96-well plates, OR one and a half (1.5) 384-well plates* up to day 10 post-thaw.
*384-well plates require more media due to a higher surface area to volume ratio; in addition, remember to account for extra media requirements when using automated liquid handling systems.
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What if I want to culture the ioMicroglia past day 10?
Ensure you purchase enough media kits to cover your planned experiments before starting. If you are culturing the ioMicroglia for a prolonged period of time, note that we also offer open source media formulations that can be found in the User Manual.
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Can I combine media from this kit with media I made myself following the User Manual?
Do not use the media prepared using the ioMicroglia Media Kit in the same experiment as media prepared from individual components following the User Manual. To ensure experimental consistency and reproducibility, it is best to use a single media source throughout your entire workflow.
