In situ growth, freezing and testing of cultured cells

A method for the detection of at least one toxin in a sample, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing:
• i) a cell culture comprising cells, wherein said cell culture has been frozen and thawed in situ on a substrate, and
• ii) a sample suspected of containing at least one toxin;
• b) adding said sample to said cell culture, to produce an inoculated culture;
• c) incubating said inoculated culture to produce an intoxicated culture;
• and
• d) observing said intoxicated culture for the presence of cytopathic effect on said cells of said cell culture.

A method for the production of frozen ready to use cell cultures comprising the steps of:

• a) providing:
• i) cells, and
• ii) a substrate selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic;
• b) placing said cells on said substrate under conditions such that said cells are attached to said substrate to produce a cell monolayer;
• and
• c) freezing said cell monolayer under conditions such that said cell monolayer remains attached to said substrate.