Mycoplasma Testing

Contamination of cell lines with Mycoplasma is a common issue in cell culture. While published figures vary, it is estimated that 15 to 35% of established cell lines are contaminated with Mycoplasma. While good cell culture practice reduces the incidence of Mycoplasma contamination, it still occurs, and can spread easily. Furthermore, Mycoplasma infection can alter various properties of the cells, including changes in gene activity. For these reasons, it is important for laboratories undertaking cell culture to regularly test their cell lines for Mycoplasma infection.

Our approach

CellBank Australia uses a combination of techniques to increase both the sensitivity and specificity of our testing. All samples are tested using:

• The MycoAlert® Mycoplasma Detection kit: a commercial, biochemical assay detecting enzymatic activity from a broad range of Mycoplasma species
• A custom PCR assay providing greater sensitivity than the MycoAlert kit (approximately 200 cfu/mL)

Additional techniques, including enrichment with an indicator cell line, or DAPI staining, can also be used if required. CellBank Australia also provides a Mycoplasma species identification service to aid researchers seeking to trace the source of an infection.

Prices

Mycoplasma testing	Price (ex-GST)
Mycoplasma Rapid Test (MycoAlert and PCR)	$196.00 per sample
Mycoplasma Rapid Test + Enrichment	$296.00 per sample

Discounts of up to 25% are available for bulk testing (8 or more samples). Please contact us for a quote on Mycoplasma species identification testing or other services.

How to order

Our Mycoplasma testing is for research purposes only. It is not appropriate for human clinical or diagnostic samples. We can only test cell lines classified as PC1 or PC2.