Is this a fungus contamination?

[emily b]

Hello everyone,

We have had a fungal contamination problem for a while with a particular cell line, and it is driving me to my wit's end. If this turns out to be fungus, I am convinced the media is the culprit.

That said, we just started up a fresh culture. I am not sure if this is fungus or not. Usually I could see any hyphae clearly at the same focus as I could view the cells, but this time, I will be scrolling through the cells and some areas appear white and extremely blurry (I'm not sure, but from what I can see there are no cells growing there). I have attached a picture of what I see when I focus the microscope on those white and blurry spots.

Is this fungus?

If it helps: adherent HEK cells, T-75 flask, FBS in medium, no antibiotic in medium, and I can see what appears to be very light scratches on the flask in the areas where this occurs

Thanks in advance!

[Fateme]

Hello emily,
Sorry if I am answering your question too late. I have just seen your email about the fungal contamination.

As it can be seen from the picture that you have sent us, it is not contamination. Since you have noticed that they can be seen from different focuses of the microscope to where the cells were clear, it seems that you were focused on the surface of the culture plate (flask). What you have photographed is just some Crystal shape of the scratches or dried materials on the bottom surface of the flask.

If you clean it with a piece of wet paper, they will disappear. 

Good luck

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