ATCC (American Type Culture Collection), the world’s largest and most diverse bioresource center, introduces the Universal Mycoplasma Detection Kit. The new kit brings together universal primers, optimized reagents and touchdown PCR to offer a highly sensitive and specific assay at an economical price.

Mycoplasma contamination, estimated to affect as many as 15% of cell cultures in US laboratories, is difficult to detect and may profoundly alter experimental results. Working with experienced gained in managing more than 3,600 cell lines, ATCC scientists designed the Universal Mycoplasma Detection Kit to provide fast results in an easy-to-use format, and improve the overall level of cell culture quality.

The ATCC Universal Mycoplasma Detection Kit provides all the components needed for an optimized PCR reaction, including buffers for cell lysis, sample lysis tubes, PCR mixes and primers. Universal primers that are specific to the 16S rRNA coding region in the Mycoplasma genome are used with a thermostable DNA polymerase. Touchdown PCR avoids amplification of nonspecific sequences, and increases specificity to the extent that DNA originating from other sources, such as E. coli and human, mouse, hamster, herring sperm, dog or rat genomic DNA, are not amplified.

In approximately three hours, the kit will detect as few as 10 genomes of M. arginini. The ATCC Kit is highly selective recognizing over 60 species of Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, Spiroplasma and Ureaplasma including the eight species most likely to contaminate cell cultures: M. arginini, M. fermentans, M. hominis, M. hyorhinis, M. orale, M. pirum, M. salivarium, and A. laidlawi.

To learn more go to www.atcc.org/MDK. To speak with an expert or place an order, call toll free 1 800-638-6597 in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, or international callers can dial +1-703-365-2700.

ABOUT ATCC

ATCC maintains the largest and most diverse biorepository in the world. The innovative, not-for-profit organization develops and provides products for life science research, services to support biotechnology development, and standards that are consistent with its mission – to acquire, authenticate, preserve, develop, and distribute standard reference microorganisms, cell lines, and related materials for research in the life sciences. With distribution to more than 140 countries and a working relationship with 12 distribution partners, ATCC has the experience, knowledge, rigorous methodologies, standards, longevity and the global reach to serve academic institutions, government agencies, biotech, biopharma, and research organizations around the world.