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mycoplasma
Rapid Mycoplasma Test for Cell Culture
Detect mycoplasma contamination in cell culture with unrivalled speed, accuracy and simplicity.
Accurate - Sensitivity of 10 CFU/mL targeting 16S ribosomal RNA for robust specificity.
Ultra Rapid - Laboratory PCR performance with a sample to result time of just 12 minutes and a hands-on time of <1 minute.
Simple - Ready-to-use assay format with ambient storage, direct sample detection and a clear visual read out.
Flexible - Uses any 0.2mL heat block or PCR machine at 50°C, or the USB-C powered Flip Nest.
Versatile - Perform rapid molecular quality testing in any location without complex equipment or procedures.
Verified Performance - Read the Flip Mycoplasma analytical performance summary here.
FREE UK SHIPPING - Competitive International Rates
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What our customers are saying about Flip Mycoplasma:
“The kit is so simple to use, it was really quick ”
“It takes much less time than our current test and was very clear and straightforward to use ”
“I got on with these really well, they were quick and straightforward.”
Why Test for Mycoplasma?
Mycoplasma contamination is one of the most common and persistent problems in mammalian cell culture. Unlike typical bacterial contamination, mycoplasma species lack a cell wall and are extremely small, allowing them to pass through standard sterile filtration and remain undetected in culture for extended periods.
Because mycoplasma contamination rarely causes visible turbidity or rapid cell death, infected cultures can continue to grow while experimental data becomes increasingly unreliable.
Regular mycoplasma testing is therefore an essential component of cell culture quality control.
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Mycoplasma organisms interact directly with host cells and can significantly alter cellular physiology. Documented effects include:
Changes in gene expression and signalling pathways
Altered metabolism and growth rates
Interference with protein production
Reduced reproducibility of experimental results
These effects can compromise research findings, invalidate assay results and introduce major variability into bioprocess development.
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Mycoplasma contamination can arise from several sources within laboratory environments, including:
Cross-contamination from infected cell lines
Contaminated reagents or biological materials
Laboratory personnel
Shared incubators or culture equipment
Once introduced, mycoplasma can spread easily between cultures and remain difficult to eliminate.
Routine screening is therefore recommended for any laboratory maintaining cell lines.
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Regular mycoplasma detection helps laboratories:
Protect the integrity of experimental data
Maintain reliable cell culture systems
Prevent cross-contamination between projects
Meet quality control and regulatory expectations
For research laboratories, biotechnology companies and cell therapy developers, consistent testing reduces the risk of costly delays and compromised results.
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Mycoplasma testing is typically performed by PCR, which has largely replaced legacy culture-based assays. PCR amplifies mycoplasma DNA from a cell culture sample and therefore PCR assays are in theory able to sensitively detect Mycoplasma in a sample, even if present at only low levels. However, PCR tests take several hours to perform and involve complex laboratory processes and equipment.
Rapid testing with the sensitivity of PCR can now be performed in just minutes using isothermal amplification and a test strip. Rapid testing removes the barriers to regular mycoplasma testing and allows contamination to be identified early, helping laboratories respond quickly and maintain high standards of cell culture quality.