The CellSearch® Epithelial Control Cell Kit contains single-use bottles of fixed cells from a breast carcinoma cell line (SK-BR-3). Each bottle contains two populations of control cells. A CellSearch® Epithelial Control Cell bottle is substituted for a research sample to verify the performance of the CellSearch® Epithelial Cell Kit reagents, sample processing by the CELLTRACKS® AutoPrep® System and cell analysis by the CellTracks Analyzer II®.
The CellTracks® AutoPrep® System is used to standardize and optimize the sample preparation protocol for use with the CellSearch® Epithelial Cell and Epithelial Control Cell Kits. Analysis and enumeration of circulating epithelial cells and control cells are performed using the CellTracks Analyzer II® with the Linux operating system.
When sample processing is complete, images are presented to the user in a gallery format for final cell classification. The user classifies an event based on morphology and correct phenotype, i.e., EpCAM+, CK+, DAPI+ and CD45-.