[Decontamination of cell cultures by removing mycoplasmas: a comparison of 3 methods].

Three different methods of decontamination of cell cultures from mycoplasma were compared: by macrophages in the presence of antibiotics, by ultraviolet radiation in the presence of 5-bromuridin and Hoechst-33258, by cloning of cells in the presence of antibiotics metacycline and doxicycline. Only the latter method was effective to decontaminate the cell cultures from mycoplasma. Twelve cell lines were decontaminated and tested for the presence of mycoplasma by microbiological method, by staining with the dye Hoechst-33258 and autoradiography. All the cell lines were free of mycoplasma.