PCR-based mycoplasma testing gives you peace of mind
Our PCR-based mycoplasma detection service can quickly and reliably detect over 60 species of Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Spiroplasma, and Ureaplasma, giving you confidence in the purity of your cultures and reliability of your data. With our service, you can expect expert analysis of your sample in an ISO/IEC 17025 certified laboratory with highly specific and accurate results.
The ATCC PCR-based mycoplasma testing service is:
- Simple. Order and receive an easy-to-use Whatman FTA sample collection card, spot your sample on the card, and send it to us.
- Fast. ATCC experts process your sample, analyze the results, and send you a comprehensive report within 3 to 5 business days.
- Affordable. Discounts are available for multi-card orders.
Submit your sample in 3 easy steps Learn about our expert analysis
Routine mycoplasma testing is critical
Common and destructive, mycoplasma contamination can deprive host cells of nutrients and induce global changes in host gene expression—without researchers' knowledge. This affects data reproducibility and experimental results, potentially leading to extensive loss of time and money. Frequent mycoplasma testing is recommended to protect your research.
When to test for mycoplasma
- When you receive a cell line into the laboratory
- After 10 passages
- After preparing a cell bank
- When in doubt
How to order the ATCC PCR-based mycoplasma testing service
The service is designed to be easy and affordable. You can submit your cells for testing in 3 steps:
- Order the ATCC FTA Sample Collection Kit for PCR-based Mycoplasma Detection Service.
- Spot your cells onto the supplied Whatman FTA card once the kit arrives. The cards contain chemicals that lyse cells, denature proteins, and protect nucleic acids from nucleases, oxidative degradation, and UV damage.
- Mail the completed submission form and dried sample to ATCC in the provided pre-addressed return envelope.
Once we receive your sample, our scientists process it and analyze the results. You will receive a comprehensive report from ATCC scientists within 3 to 5 business days.
Order the FTA Sample Collection Kit
Get the expertise and analysis you need
ATCC scientists use a proprietary PCR-based mycoplasma assay to test your cells. We’re able to achieve highly specific and accurate results by using a proprietary mix of buffers, dNTPs, and thermostable polymerase that are combined with universal primers specific to the ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) coding region in the genome of multiple mycoplasma species.
We also use a touchdown PCR regimen to increase sensitivity of the assay and enhance specificity. This strategy employs a high annealing temperature in the initial cycle that decreases with subsequent cycles to increase the likelihood of primers binding to the specific targets, reducing the chance that non-specific targets will be amplified. In this case, mycoplasma contamination is easily recognized as a distinct PCR product ranging in size from 434 to 468 base pairs. Our PCR-based mycoplasma detection service can identify target DNA as low as 2.5 fg, yet not cross-react with related bacterial or mammalian genomic DNA.
The assay quickly and reliably detects more than 60 species of Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Spiroplasma, and Ureaplasma, including the top 8 species most likely to affect cell cultures: M. arginini, M. fermentans, M. hominis, M. hyorhinis, M. orale, M. pirum, M. salivarium, and A. laidlawii. |
