Table 3.

Summary of recommendations for inclusion of SABV in cell-based studies: the 4 Cs

Concept	Recommendations
Consider	• Sex-linked genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors in study design to include SABV.
Collect	• Short tandem repeat analysis or other data on cell line sex and hormonal exposure.
Characterize	• Effects of cell line sex and environmental exposure on results.
Communicate	• Results of cell line sex authentication in materials and methods, effects of cell line sex in results and discussion, insufficient information on cell line sex in discussion or Limitations of the Study.

“NIH policy on sex as a biological variable” (SABV) may be found at https://orwh.od.nih.gov/sex-gender/nih-policy-sex-biological-variable.