Copyright: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee: Pirogov University.
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REVIEW

Contamination of cell lines: methods for development and optimization of diagnostic assays

Ovsyannikova MA
About authors

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia

Correspondence should be addressed: Maria A. Ovsyannikova
Ostrovityanova St., 1., Moscow, 117997, Russia; ur.xednay@70svom

About paper

Financing: this paper builds upon the research conducted by the University School of Chemistry*Bio*Plus, specifically stemming from their Lab Diagnostics of Cell Culture Contaminants project series, which began in 2022 and continues to this day.

Received: 2026-04-21 Accepted: 2026-05-25 Published online: 2026-06-06
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Biological contamination within cell lines poses a critical challenge, resulting in substantial expenses across both research laboratories and industrial manufacturing. The introduction of contaminants into cell lines compromises the validity of the data and requires subsequent replication of the assays. There exists a remarkably extensive array of contaminants involved, ranging from readily identifiable fungi to hidden mycoplasmas and specific viruses like the murine hepatitis virus and BVDV. As decontamination of infected cultures poses significant risks, the immediate rejection of affected materials stands as the most viable protocol. Biosafety within large enterprises can be optimized through the deployment of an integrated database and PCR-based diagnostic algorithm. By evaluating the sensitivity, specificity, duration, and cost of each technique, it can be concluded that PCR is the optimal strategy for massive structures. A centralized database synchronizes laboratory data streams, eliminating the latent risks of pathogen transmission via common equipment. The systematic registration of incidents and exchange of data on selected primers make it possible to quickly eliminate recurrent problems and achieve substantial cost optimization.

Keywords: PCR, cell lines, viral contamination, mycoplasma contamination, diagnostic system

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