How to Prevent Mycoplasma Contamination and Spread in Your Cell Culture Lab

Overview

Mycoplasmas are a common bacterial contaminant in cell culture labs. They are resistant to commonly used antibiotics and cannot be detected under the light microscope because they lack a cell wall and are extremely small - only 0.2-0.4 µm in diameter. This increases the risk of mycoplasma contamination not being detected in the lab. Mycoplasma contamination has been shown to induce cellular changes, such as drug susceptibility.

Pipettes are the most used tools in the lab and are therefore prone to contamination. Contaminated pipettes can cross-contaminate samples and cell cultures. Regular cleaning of pipettes is essential to control contamination. Some pipettes are fully autoclavable or have parts that can be autoclaved. Incorrect pipetting technique can also cause cross-contamination. Therefore, an ergonomic pipette and proper pipetting technique are important to prevent mycoplasma contamination and ensure clean samples and successful experiments.

Download this poster to learn how to prevent mycoplasma contamination and spread in your cell culture lab.

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