THE CELL CULTURE TEST
MECT
TESTING WITH MYCOPLASMA EXPERIENCE
After secure transportation from your laboratory under controlled conditions, (see transportation services) the cell culture test is conducted as follows -
Each lot of medium used in your test will be tested with low numbers of M. pneumoniae (human pathogen), M. orale (human throat commensal, cell culture isolate), M. hyorhinis cultivar α (porcine origin, cell culture isolate) and M. synoviae (avian pathogen, presently unique in its requirement for NAD). Additionally, media constituents are tested for their ability to support two, serum derived, common cell culture contaminants M. arginini and Acholeplasma laidlawii.
IDENTIFICATION
Identification can aid in tracing the source of infection and thus help avoid further outbreaks. Identification of isolates is an integral part of the cell culture test and will be initiated as soon as an isolation is confirmed. Although most mycoplasma infection of cell cultures is caused by a limited number of sources, infection with more than one mycoplasma species can occur and there is the possibility of isolating novel species.
REPORTING
On completion, a report is issued together with copies of the test worksheet and copies of media validation sheets which record the QC testing of all media lots used in the test.