The Vero cells are grown on cover slips and inoculated with the test material. After five to six days, the cover slips are stained and a positive mycoplasma result seen as a fine granular fluorescence over the surface of the individual cells. The addition of certain antibiotics, such as G418, to culture media can inhibit the detection of mycoplasma species without killing them. When such an antibiotic is present, the cells or viruses must be passaged in an antibiotic-free medium prior to the mycoplasma testing. Only after this is done should testing commence.
Mycoplasma contamination is the result of a break in aseptic techniques.
Scientists are encouraged to monitor cell cultures for the presence of this organism. A reference on mycoplamas and detection methods may be found in the two volume set Molecular and Diagnostic Procedures in Mycoplasmology . S Razin, JG Tully, Academic Press, San Diego, 1995-1996.