Guidance on Good Cell Culture Practice - A report of the second ECVAM task force on Good Cell Culture Practice

The maintenance of high standards is fundamental to all good scientific practice, and is essential for maximising the reproducibility, reliability, credibility, acceptance and proper application of any results produced. The aim of this Guidance on Good Cell Culture Practice (GCCP) is to promote the maintenance of these standards and to reduce uncertainty in the development and application of animal and human cell and tissue culture procedures and products, by encouraging greater international harmonisation, rationalisation and standardisation of laboratory practices, quality control systems, safety procedures, recording and reporting, and compliance with laws, regulations and ethical principles. The scope of the document has deliberately been broadly defined, to include systems based on cells and tissues obtained from humans and animals, and issues related to the characterisation and maintenance of essential characteristics, as well as quality assurance, recording and reporting, safety, education and training, and ethics.