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Biological contamination

From Bioblast


high-resolution terminology - matching measurements at high-resolution


Biological contamination

Description

Biological contamination may be caused by microbial growth in the O2k-Chamber or in the experimental medium.


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MitoPedia O2k and high-resolution respirometry: O2k-Open Support 



Biological contamination of the O2k-Chamber is detected as a high O2 flux in the closed chamber, measured in a QC1: Oxygen sensor test or QC2: Instrumental O2 background test.
The problem can be solved by first cleaning the O2k-Chamber by chemical sterilization (70 % ethanol with 30 % water; not 100 % ethanol) and test with a freshly prepared experimental medium, such as MiR05. Make sure the 70% ethanol does not contain any additives; e.g., 70 % ethanol used in hospital settings may contain antiseptics (EtOH containing antiseptics provided by Garcia-Roves PM). If repeated washing and storage with 70 % ethanol does not remove a biological contamination, the glass chamber has to be cleaned as described for protein contamination under O2k-Chamber cleaning with HCl by removing the glass chamber from the O2k and using a strong acid.