Measures are used to control the sources and the vehicles of spread of mycoplasma contamination, which can be identified through biology microscopes. The major sources of contamination are of human, bovine, and swine origin. The major vehicles of spread are aerosols and contaminated reagents. The measures used are: the use of primary cell cultures whenever feasible, eliminate the use of mouth pipetting which is the major vehicle of human oral mycoplasma contamination; the use of rigid sterile procedures, aseptic technique, and good personal habits to prevent contamination by human genital mycoplasma; and treatment of commercial bovine sera, prior to use, to remove or inactivate potential contaminants, that may be observed under biology microscopes.

For the elimination of mycoplasma contamination, identified through biology microscopes, the procedures include: the use of antibiotics, tetracyclines, chlorotetracyclines, oxytetracyclines, kanamycin, tylosin and novobiocin; prolonged heat at 41 degrees centigrade for 18 hours; specific high-titered neutralizing antiserum; aurothiomalate; Tricine; Triton X; photodynamic inactivation and the combined use of an antiserum and antibiotic.

Elimination of pathogens from shoot tip cultures involves the use of heat therapy which has been most successful. The actively growing plants are placed in a thermotherapy chamber and exposed to temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees centigrade for a few hours to months depending upon the characteristics of the virus.