An autoradiographic method of detecting A. laidlawii and M. hyorhinis in cell cultures

The autoradiographic investigation of L cells and chinese hamster cells for the presence of mycoplasmas (A. laidlawii and M. hyorhinis) using uridine/uracil (UdR/U) testing is a rapid and reliable method suitable for the serial checking of even a small number of cells. It depends on a reduced incorporation of [3H]uridine and an increased uptake of [3H]uracil into the RNA of mycoplasma-infected cells, shown in autoradiograms by the density of the grains and their distribution. Results obtained by the autoradiographic technique correspond approximately to specific activity values of RNA-infected cells after the incorporation of [3H]uridine and [3H]uracil.