[Comparative study of the sensitivity of Mycoplasma detection methods in cell cultures]

The results of a comparative study of the sensitivity of several methods for mycoplasma detection in cell cultures are presented. The most sensitive method was found to be that of electron microscopy detecting mycoplasmal contamination in 100% preparations. Seeding of the material on mycoplasma-elective nutrient medium (0.3% PPLO agar) and the method of autoradiography detect the culture contamination in 90% of the test materials. Staining of cell cultures with orsein and Schiff reagent are less sensitive methods revealing mycoplasmal contamination in 69% and 77.7% of the cultures, respectively.