EZdetect™ DAPI Stain Kit for Mycoplasma Detection

The EZdetectTM DAPI stain kit has been designed for detection of mycoplasma based on rapid uptake of the fluorescent stain DAPI by cellular DNA. DAPI itself exhibits high permeability into cells; a property that facilitates quick uptake by the cells. It selectively binds minor grooves of the DNA. Its selectivity for DNA(over RNA) and high cell-permeability allows for efficient staining of the nuclei. The excitation maximum of dsDNA-bound DAPI is 358nm and emission maximum is 461nm. It can be excited either with a xenon mercury arc lamp or a UV laser and is detected through a blue filter. Mycoplasma staining with DAPI appears as a fine particulate or filamentous staining over the cytoplasm at 100X magnification. Nuclei of the cells are also brightly stained by this method and thereby act as endogenous positive control for the staining procedure.