Lonza MycoAlert® Mycoplasma Detection Kit is a selective bioluminescence assay for rapid, sensitive detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures.
Lonza MycoAlert® Mycoplasma Detection Kit is a selective biochemical bioluminescence assay for the rapid, sensitive detection of mycoplasma contamination in cell cultures. The assay exploits the activity of mycoplasmal enzymes — which are present in the vast majority of approximately 200 mycoplasma species but absent from eukaryotic cells — to catalyse a specific reaction that generates a measurable luminescence signal. Results are obtained within 20 minutes using a standard luminometer, with no requirement for PCR equipment, culture, or staining.
MycoAlert® is the most widely published mycoplasma detection assay in the scientific literature, trusted by cell therapy, biopharmaceutical, and research laboratories worldwide for routine cell culture quality control.
Key Features
- Results in 20 minutes — no PCR equipment, culture media, or long incubation required
- Highly sensitive: detects all common mycoplasma species and most atypical strains
- Selective for mycoplasmal enzymes — not triggered by eukaryotic cell contamination
- Compatible with any standard luminometer
- Suitable for routine quality control of cell culture collections
- Non-radioactive, bioluminescence-based detection
Applications
- Routine mycoplasma screening of cell cultures
- Biopharmaceutical and cell therapy production quality control
- Biosafety testing of biological reagents and media
- Incoming cell line testing and quarantine programmes