Technical library

Regular mycoplasma testing is an important part of good cell culture practice because contamination may remain unnoticed and can affect cell growth, morphology, and experimental results.
Recommended testing frequency:
The appropriate testing frequency depends on the type of cells and how long they are maintained in culture:
- Continuous or long-term cell lines: Test regularly throughout cultivation. Monthly testing is a practical routine for continuously maintained cultures.
- Primary human cells: These cells have a finite lifespan and are generally cultured for a limited number of population doublings. Therefore, monthly testing may not always be necessary for short-term experiments. We recommend additional testing at a relevant experimental checkpoint, particularly before important experiments or before cryopreserving expanded cells, or whenever contamination is suspected.
- Newly introduced cultures: Consider testing cells when they are first introduced into your laboratory, especially if their mycoplasma status is unknown. All PromoCell cell lots are tested for the absence of mycoplasma as part of quality control before release. For PromoCell primary cells, additional testing immediately after receipt is therefore generally not necessary. 
- Suspected contamination: Test immediately if you observe unexpected changes in cell growth, morphology, or culture behavior.