DNA CONTAMINATION OF REAGENTS USED IN EMBRYO-TRANSFER AND CULTURE

Commonly used reagents in the culture and transfer of embryos are isolated from blood and tissue samples and thus have the potential for chromosomal and or mitochondrial DNA contamination. In this study, we evaluated the results obtained from PCR analysis of bovine trypsin, bovine sera, and bovine albumin precipitates. Bovine sera samples that were tested yielded minor to heavy DNA contamination signals depending on the manufacturer and specific type of sera. Bovine albumin precipitates showed very little DNA contamination or none at all. Bovine trypsin samples yielded moderate DNA contamination signals depending on the ability of the trypsin to be inactivated prior to PCR analysis.