Cambio - Excellence in Molecular Biology

Cell Culture Contamination Control

Cell Culture Contamination Control: Detection

Mycoplasma Detection

As an efficient contamination control measure we recommend frequent routine testing of cell culture materials with Venor®Gem Mycoplasma Detection Kits. These PCR- and qPCR-based mycoplasma assays allow fast (within a few hours), simple, effective and sensitive detection of mycoplasma-contaminated cell cultures in any standard molecular biology laboratory.

Regular mycoplasma testing and control procedures can significantly help in avoiding the costly consequences of contamination ensuring safe biopharmaceuticals and reliable scientific results.  Many scientific journals currently do not accept submissions of cell-based studies without evidence that mycoplasma testing has been performed.

To meet different customer needs Minerva Biolabs has developed a range of Venor®GeM mycoplasma detection assays using conventional PCR or qPCR methods which enable rapid and reliable identification of mycoplasma in cell cultures, culture supernatants and tissue culture media.

Conventional PCR

  • Venor®GeM Classic allows fast, reliable and time-saving routine monitoring of mycoplasma contamination in cell culture supernatants, media and biopharmaceuticals in research and industry by conventional PCR.

  • Venor®GeM OneStep is a kit for direct detection. It requires minimal pipetting, the kit includes all reagents required for PCR in a ready-to-use lyophilized reaction mix. Only samples or controls need to be added prior to PCR.

  • Venor®GeM Advance is designed for direct detection. Designed to reduce the total assay time and the pipetting steps, the kit contains PCR strips of tubes, each pre-dispensed with all reagents necessary for each PCR reaction, including the polymerase. For additional convenience, the gel loading buffer and dye are already included in the reaction buffer. After PCR, the products can be loaded directly on an agarose gel.

Real-time PCR (qPCR)

Our qPCR kits are TaqMan®-based qPCR Assays with labelled probes:  FAM® channel (mycoplasma) and HEX® channel (internal control to check for PCR inhibition from contaminants in sample).  So not only does the qPCR approach remove a lot of hassle, but the internal controls also give you reassurance that your negatives are not false.

  • Venor®GeM qEP utilises quantitative, real-time PCR (qPCR) for fast (approx. 3 h) and reliable screening of cell culture supernatants for mycoplasma contamination. The kit can be used in combination with any type of real-time PCR cycler able to detect the fluorescence dyes FAM® and HEX®. For clinical diagnostics in which human samples are tested we recommend using this kit as it conforms to EP 2.6.7, USP <71> and JP G3. It is suitable for both research and industry where certified compliance is needed or desirable. 

  • Venor®GeM qOneStep is a kit based on a real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for rapid, robust and sensitive detection of mycoplasma contamination. The detection procedure can be performed within 3 hours. Primers, nucleotides, probes, polymerase and an internal amplification control are provided as a ready-to-use, lyophilized reaction mix. This kit is a very straightforward and is highly suitable for academic labs and industrial applications where certified compliance of kits is not required.


Venor®GeM Advance Mycoplasma Detection Kit

Venor®GeM Advance is a ready-to-go version of Venor®GeM. The reaction tubes included with the kit are pre-coated with appropriate dNTPs and primers to reduce the total assay time compared to the general protocol that requires individual loading of reaction tubes. For additional convenience the gel loading buffer and dye are already included in the reaction tubes. After thermal cycling the PCR can be loaded directly on the agarose gel.

Minerva Biolabs

Catalogue No.DescriptionPack SizePriceQty
11-7024Venor®GeM Advance Mycoplasma Detection Kit24 reactions £170.00 Quantity Add to Order
11-7048Venor®GeM Advance Mycoplasma Detection Kit48 reactions £312.00 Quantity Add to Order
11-7096Venor®GeM Advance Mycoplasma Detection Kit96 reactions £544.00 Quantity Add to Order
11-7240Venor®GeM Advance Mycoplasma Detection Kit240 reactions £1,156.00 Quantity Add to Order

Description

Venor®GeM Advance

Venor®GeM Advance contains PCR reaction tubes pre-coated with all PCR reagents to reduce the total assay time without need to prepare aliquots of a master mix. For additional convenience the gel loading buffer and dye are already included in the reaction buffer. After thermal cycling the PCR can be loaded directly on the agarose gel.

Type of PCR

For conventional, endpoint PCR

Scope of Application

Applicable in research for direct testing of cell cultures and cell culture-derived biologicals. Intended for research use only. Not recommended for clinical diagnostics or testing of human samples.

Kit Components

Primer sets, nucleotides, polymerase and internal control DNA, lyophilized, filled in 0.2 ml PCR reaction tubes
Rehydration buffer including gel loading buffer and running dye
Positive controls, lyophilized, filled in 0.2 ml PCR reaction tubes
PCR grade water

Package Sizes

  • Cat. No. 11-7024 24 Tests

  • Cat. No. 11-7048 48 Tests

  • Cat. No. 11-7096 96 Tests

  • Cat. No. 11-7240 240 Tests

Result evaluation

Gel electrophoresis at endpoint of PCR

Required Consumables

Agarose and DNA-specific dye for gel staining

Required lab devices

Regular block-heated PCR cycler
Agarose gel electrophoresis and gel documentation system
Pipetting equipment
Tube centrifuge

Shelf Life and Storage

Kit components are maintainable at 2 to 8 °C for at least 6 months. After rehydratisation of the individual PCR tubes the reagents must be used within 1 hour.

EP 2.6.7 compliance

No

Fig. Amplified PCR products are visualized by standard gel electrophoresis.

 

 

 

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Protocols

Venor®GeM Advance protocol

Quick Visual protocol 

Please note: all protocols off site are the responsibility of the products supplier

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References

Click here to view a list of citations

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Notes

Required consumables:

Agarose and DNA-specific dye for gel staining

 

Required lab devices:

Regular block-heated PCR cycler
Agarose gel electrophoresis and gel documentation system
Pipetting equipment
Tube centrifuge

 

Shelf life and storage:

Kit components are maintainable at 2 to 8 °C for at least 6 months. After rehydratisation of the individual PCR tubes the reagents must be used within 1 hour.

 

EP 2.6.7 compliance:

No

 

Fig. Amplified PCR products are visualized by standard gel electrophoresis

If you cannot find the answer to your problem then please contact us or telephone +44 (0)1954 210 200

Applications & Benefits

Application

For the rapid and reliable detection of mycoplasma in various in situ biologicals including cell cultures and virus stocks

Benefits

    • Sensitive - Detection of 5 copies/µl of mycoplasma DNA that corresponds to 10 mycoplasma genomes per sample volume.
    • Specific - The kit is specific for more than 79 mycoplasma species including all relevant species mentioned in the Eur. Ph. 2.6.7. For the detection of the avian associated mycoplasma species M. synoviae and M. gallisepticum the product Venor®MGS is highly recommended. Eukaryotic and bacterial DNA is not amplified.
    • Reliable - The tubes contain internal control DNA for individual inhibition control. The pre-aliquoted reagents optimize reproducibility and minimize operator-dependent variability of results.
    • Simple - Only rehydration buffer, polymerase and sample have to be added to the PCR tube.
    • Clear - A clear and easily interpretable result is obtained with one PCR reaction.

 

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Technical Help

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Related products

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