Mycoplasma species are often found in research laboratories as contaminants in cell culture. Up to 35% of cell cultures may be contaminated with mycoplasma due to contamination from individuals or contaminated cell culture medium ingredients. Mycoplasma cells are physically small – less than 1 μm, so are difficult to detect with a conventional microscope.

Mycoplasma contamination affects cell functions such as metabolism, morphology, protein synthesis and cell proliferation, leading to unreliable results, lost time and resources. Contamination is persistent and not typically visible by turbidity or microscopy, making it difficult to detect and diagnose. PCR-based assays have the highest sensitivity with minimal preparation time for early detection in a rapid and simple manner, when compared to other methods. Routine screening is essential and traditional methods are time consuming.

The PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit provides a rapid and highly sensitive PCR method for testing your cell cultures for Mycoplasma contamination and contains a ready-to-use PCR reaction mix with highly-optimized mycoplasma-specific primers, Taq polymerase & dNTPs.

Advantages of the PCR Mycoplasma Test Kit