The standard test for mycoplasma contamination is evolving. As macromolecule drugs derived from mammalian cells become more commonplace, reducing the turnaround time for testing and investigation on the large-scale bioreactors of today has become an indispensable need for manufacturers to ensure productivity and cost competency. The pressure to reduce the turnaround time has spurred innovation with real-time PCR methods. The vision for future testing is simple to use, fast and accurate.