Troubleshooting unexpected results – could it be mycoplasma contamination?
15% off all mycoplasma kits*
Mycoplasma contamination is a hidden threat in cell culture labs, affecting an estimated 15–35% of cultures worldwide. These tiny organisms can silently disrupt your experiments, as they do not cause visible changes in culture media or cells. However, the impact on cell behavior can be significant – variation in gene expression, immune cell activation as well as changes in metabolism. The good news is that regular mycoplasma testing significantly minimizes the risk of contamination, which can easily spread between cultures. Labs that consistently test their cells report contamination rates as low as 2%. (1)
3 reasons to test for mycoplasma regularly
- To ensure reliable results – mycoplasma contamination will influence almost every aspect of cell behavior
- Required by high impact journals – like journals in Nature Publishing group (2)
- Requirement in European pharmacopeia for cell and gene therapy products (3)
Testing methods
Traditional methods involve culturing samples on agar plates to identify mycoplasma-specific genes. However, modern techniques offer faster alternatives, providing results in as little as 20 min to 5 hours. Depending on equipment available in your lab BioNordika suggests N-GARDE (EuroClone) or MycoAlert kit (Lonza).
N-GARDE (EuroClone)
N-GARDE Mycoplasma PCR Reagent set - 20 test
MycoAlert kits (Lonza)
MYCOALERT DETECTION KIT- 10 test
MYCOALERT DETECTION KIT- 25 test
MYCOALERT DETECTION KIT- 50 test
MYCOALERT DETECTION KIT- 100 test
MYCOALERT ASSAY CONTROL SET-10 test
MycoAlert PLUS detection kit - 10 test
MycoAlert PLUS detection kit - 30 test
Start testing
Get in contact with our product specialists through info@bionordika.se for some tips on what method for mycoplasma testing could be recommended for your lab!
15% off all mycoplasma kits*
Use promo code: BNQ2-2025 when placing your order through our webshop or by email to get the discount.Valid until 30th June 2025.
References:
Nikfarjam L, Farzaneh P. Prevention and detection of Mycoplasma contamination in cell culture. Cell J. 2012 Winter;13(4):203-12. Epub 2011 Dec 22. PMID: 23508237; PMCID: PMC3584481.
“Reporting standards and availability of data, materials, code and protocols” https://www.nature.com/nature-portfolio/editorial-policies/reporting-standards 2024-01-02
European Pharmacopoeia, chapter 2.6.7
Henna Salo, PhD
Product Manager
Stockholm, Uppsala and North Sweden
