Precise detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures

Sensitive and rapid detection of mycoplasma infection

AMSBIO introduces the MycoScope™ Mycoplasma PCR Detection Kit, a cutting-edge solution utilising polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to identify mycoplasma infections in under 3 hours. This high-sensitivity kit delivers rapid and reliable results, and compatibility with existing PCR systems to minimise contamination risks, saving both time and resources.

According to the 2023 ISSCR standards report, a significant portion of cell cultures (over 80%) are compromised by mycoplasma. While these contaminants may not kill cells outright, they disrupt cellular structure and function, rendering any data from infected cultures unreliable. Mycoplasma testing is therefore an essential quality control measure in cell culture laboratories.

Traditionally, mycoplasma detection relied on agar cultures and DNA fluorochrome staining, but PCR is quickly becoming the preferred method due to its superior sensitivity.

The MycoScope™ Mycoplasma PCR Detection Kit has been rigorously evaluated with various commercially available DNA polymerases and can detect as few as 5 mycoplasma genomes per microlitre of sample. Its primers are designed to target the 16S rRNA coding region in the mycoplasma genome, enabling the detection of all mycoplasma species commonly found in cell cultures.

Additionally, this rapid detection kit allows for direct testing of cell supernatants without the need for initial DNA extraction, further streamlining the process. The kit’s distinct 500bp banding on an agarose gel makes it easy to identify using the MycoScope™ PCR primer set, allowing for the simultaneous testing of multiple samples. MycoScope™ kits are available in convenient formats, offering 50 or 100 reaction sizes to suit different laboratory needs.

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