Choosing Bacterial Endotoxin Detection Method

Abstract

Various test methods are used to detect and quantify bacterial endotoxins: a gel-clot test, which is arbitral and is based on the formation of a gel, and photometric (instrumental) tests that determine the intensity of the color or turbidity in the test solutions. In this article we consider the features of modern methods for detecting bacterial endotoxins, their advantages and disadvantages. Based on information analysis and practical experience, the main criteria for choosing a method for determining pyrogenic impurities are established. The gel-clot test and photometric determinations of bacterial endotoxins are sufficiently reliable and reproducible. The choice is left for the analyst when all necessary equipment and reagents are available.Instrumental methods are used in rare case due to their high sensitivity, which allows to avoid the influence of interfering factors in the LAL-test.

Keywords

• bacterial endotoxins
• gel-clot test
• photometric methods
• turbidimetric
• chromogenic
• interfering factors