Mycoplasma contamination is a serious problem for laboratories due to its impact on cell properties and safety of biological products. Mycoplasma contaminations in cell cultures are unnoticeable (macroscopically as well as microscopically), making routine tests for reliable mycoplasma detection necessary. They represent a serious concern for academic and biopharmaceutical laboratories due to their effects on cell properties and on safety of biological products.

Mycoplasma (term often interchangeably used with Mollicutes, which include Mycoplasma, Acholeplasma, and Spiroplasma) are ubiquitous in the environment. In cell culture laboratories, 95 % of all mycoplasma infections in continuous cell lines are caused by as few as six contaminant species of bovine, swine, and human origin. These microbial agents easily spread from an infected cell culture batch to another by aerosol transmission or inadequate aseptic techniques.

Regular mycoplasma testing and control procedures help avoiding the costly consequences of a cell culture contamination and ensuring safe biopharmaceuticals and reliable scientific results. Consequently, most scientific publishers do not accept submission of cell-based studies without proof of the performed mycoplasma tests.