The incidence and effects of contaminating mycoplasma, bacteria and viruses in cell cultures are frequently underestimated when there are no visible changes, such as turbidity.
Rapid and reliable detection of contamination is now possible using products available from CAMBIO, the UK distributor of Minerva Biolabs, based on PCR technology. VenorGeM, VenorGeM OneStep and VenorGeM Advance kits are said to provide sensitive, specific and reliable identification of more than 79 mycoplasma species. Regular screening of cultures is vital in order to detect contamination, which causes non-reproducible results in research and productivity losses of up to 50% in industry. Quantitative detection of mycoplasma can be achieved with the qPCR kit. Contamination control products include Zellshield, a combination of antimicrobials which protect cultures against contamination; Mynox, which eliminates mycoplasmas without affecting the cells in any way; and new Mycoplasma-Off Wipes. Cambio offers clinical diagnostic kits from Minerva Biolabs for fast, accurate in vitro diagnosis of MRSA, whooping cough, Legionnaires’ disease, syphilis, chlamydia infection, and pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Kits contain all the necessary reagents, including the polymerase, which is provided freeze-dried for long-term stability. Utilising highly sensitive qPCR technology, these kits permit early identification of clinically significant infections, overcoming disadvantages such as insensitivity, delayed detection and poor specificity which may be associated with methods based on culture and serology.
