Detection of Mycoplasma Contamination in Lymphoblastoid Cultures by a Simple, HPLC Method

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Abstract
A simple method for detecting mycoplasma contamination of lymphoid cell cultures is discusssed. This method is based on high pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) detection of citrulline by reversed-phase separation of its o-phthaldialydehye derivative. Formation of citrulline via conversion of arginine using the enzyme arginine deiminase present in most of the commonly encountered strains of mycoplasma is measured by this sensitive technique. The use of HPLC techniques offers an extremely sensitive indication of mycoplasma contamination in cells having large nuclei which make detection by staining with Hoechst dyes difficult to interpret.