Millipore - Mycoplasma Testing

Millipore Technical Publications

	Mycoplasma is the generic name assigned to microorganisms in the class Mollicutes. It comprises over 100 known species that are further divided into a number of strains. Mycoplasmas are the smallest, free living, self-replicating microorganisms. Mycoplasma contamination is of greatest concern in the area of cell culture. It has been estimated that between 5 and 35% of cell cultures currently in use are infected with at least one species of mycoplasma1. The highly nutritive environment of the media used in cell culture can lead to the propagation of mycoplasma, resulting in diminished cell growth as well as the loss of cultures. Because they do not overgrow the cell lines, specific methods are necessary to detect them, often requiring a combination of tests. Click the PDF above for the full document.