Important: ZKBS increases classification recommendation for the Burkitt lymphoma cell line BLaER1

In its statement of September 3, 2019, the ZKBS published an update to the classification recommendation for the Burkitt lymphoma cell line BLaER1. The reason for the upgrade to Risk Group 2 was that the cell line tested positive for SMRV (squirrel monkey retrovirus) in various laboratories. Further investigations revealed that the contamination had already occurred during the production of the cell line, so the ZKBS assumes that all currently used BLaER1 cell lines and their derivatives are contaminated accordingly. However, the ZKBS allows a downgrade to Risk Group 1 in individual cases, namely if it can be proven that an SMRV-negative cell line is being used or that the cell line does not release infectious particles. We have provided a link to the corresponding report from the ZKBS meeting for you here .