DNA CONTAMINATION OF REAGENTS USED IN EMBRYO-TRANSFER AND CULTURE

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.