Commonly used reagents in the culture and transfer of embryos are isol
ated from blood and tissue samples and thus have the potential for chr
omosomal and or mitochondrial DNA contamination. In this study, we eva
luated the results obtained from PCR analysis of bovine trypsin, bovin
e 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 precipitate
s showed very little DNA contamination or none at all. Bovine trypsin
samples yielded moderate DNA contamination signals depending on the ab
ility of the trypsin to be inactivated prior to PCR analysis.