Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis
Letter to the EditorReference cells in the comet assay
Section snippets
Internal standards for comparing comet assay results from different laboratories
In both in vitro and human cohort studies, comet assay results obtained in different experiments and different laboratories are compared and analysed. Negative and positive controls are obviously required to demonstrate that the assay is actually working, but in addition standardization of results is needed to allow quantification and evaluation of data. In particular, when comparing and analysing results from different human cohorts, as in the hCOMET Project (CA COST Action CA15132 – The comet
Conclusions
Cells of moderately different genome size represent novel opportunities as internal reference cells. We expect that a systematic use of such references should contribute to improved standardization of comet assay data.
Conflict of interest
None.
The kind assistance of Drøbak Akvarium with its leader Klaus Bareksten is greatly appreciated.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the European Cooperation for Science and Technology (CA COST Action CA15132 - The comet assay as a human biomonitoring tool (hCOMET)); and by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme, project number 223268/F50 (CERAD, Centre for Environmental Radioactivity). Experimental contributions by Anna Safar and Kristine B. Gutzkow, and discussions with Terje Christensen are gratefully acknowledged.
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Cited by (2)
Calibration of the comet assay using ionising radiation
2023, Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental MutagenesisCitation Excerpt :Another attractive possibility would be the use of irradiated reference cells which could be taken through the comet assay after mixing with sample cells, acting as a true internal control. Two different approaches have been described for specific scoring of cells in such mixtures [25,30]. To summarise, we have investigated the causes of variation in comet assay results between laboratories.
Introduction to hCOMET special issue, ‘Comet assay in vitro’
2019, Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis