[Presence of mycoplasmas in cell cultures in Argentina]

The presence of mycoplasmas in cell cultures used for virus propagation in Argentine laboratories, was studied. Samples were obtained from laboratories located in the city of Buenos Aires and provinces of Córdoba and Buenos Aires. The fluorescent stain Hoechst 33258, which specifically binds to DNA, was used for mycoplasma testing. Thirty three (65%) of 51 analyzed cell cultures (48 established lines and 3 primary cultures), were found contaminated despite that all laboratories were well equipped to work under sterile conditions. The high rate of infection observed let us conclude that the risk to work with mycoplasma contaminated cultures was not properly appreciated.