A Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) is a legal contract governing the use of biological materials, particularly cell lines. Most cell suppliers require an MTA before shipping cells to protect intellectual property and define permitted uses.
When MTAs are required:
MTAs are typically needed for:
Primary cell lines (bovine, porcine, avian, seafood)
Immortalised cell lines
Genetically modified cells
Cell banking products
Certain proprietary growth factors
How the MTA process works:
Step 1: Order placement When you order a product requiring an MTA, the system identifies this automatically at checkout.
Step 2: MTA delivery Within 24 hours of order placement, both you and the supplier receive an email containing:
The supplier's standard MTA document
Instructions for digital signing
Secure signing link
Step 3: Review and sign Review the MTA terms, which typically cover:
Permitted uses of the material
Publication and IP rights
Restrictions on redistribution
Liability and warranties
Material ownership
Sign digitally through the secure link provided. Most MTAs use standard terms, but consult your legal team if needed.
Step 4: Supplier signature After you sign, the supplier receives notification and signs their portion.
Step 5: Order fulfilment Once both parties have signed, the supplier receives authorisation to ship. The order proceeds normally from this point.
First order only:
The MTA process only occurs on your first order from each supplier. Once an MTA is in place between your organisation and a supplier, subsequent orders of cells from that supplier proceed without additional MTA signing.
Timeline:
Most MTAs are signed within 1-3 business days. Factor this into your planning when ordering cells with time-sensitive experiments.
Questions about MTA terms:
If you have questions about specific MTA terms, contact the supplier directly using the contact information provided in the MTA email. Suppliers can often clarify terms or address concerns about permitted uses.