HC-a from Creative Bioarray are isolated from human articular cartilage. HC-a are cryopreserved at primary cultures and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 10^5 cells in 1 ml volume. HC-a are characterized by the cytochemically detection of S100 and type II collagen. HC-a are negative for HIV-1, HBV, HCV, mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast and fungi. HC-a are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings in the conditions provided by Creative Bioarray.