The need for non-cultural methods for the detection of mycoplasma contaminants

Mycoplasmas are common contaminants of cell cultures and are of great importance because of the deleterious effects they have upon the infected host cells. Routine detection testing usually relies upon cultural methods and demonstration of characteristic colonies on agar. Questions as to the efficacy of this method have been raised because of increasing realization of the presence of "non-cultivable" mycoplasmas. Several non-cultural detection methods have been developed to aid in the detection of these fastidious microorganisms. These methods include morphology by light and electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, enzyme assays, autoradiography, sucrose gradient separation, altered transport of nucleic acid precursors and altered nucleic acid profiles. A comparison of the relative sensitivities of these methods will be outlined. The need for, and the feasibility of non-cultural detection methods as quality control tests in human virus vaccine production will be discussed.