Authentication: A Standard Problem or a Problem of Standards?

Reproducibility and transparency in biomedical sciences have been called into question, and scientists have been found wanting as a result. Putting aside deliberate fraud, there is evidence that a major contributor to lack of reproducibility is insufficient quality assurance of reagents used in preclinical research. Cell lines are widely used in biomedical research to understand fundamental biological processes and disease states, yet most researchers do not perform a simple, affordable test to authenticate these key resources. Here, we provide a synopsis of the problems we face and how standards can contribute to an achievable solution.A major contributor to lack of reproducibility in preclinical research is insufficient quality assurance of reagents used. This article examines the problems surrounding the authentication of cell lines and discusses potential solutions.