Categories

Endotoxin detection

Endotoxin detection

This test reveals contamination by bacterial endotoxins (lipolysaccharide), which is a membrane component of gram-negative bacteria. This reaction is the basis of LAL test, used for detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins. Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is an aqueous extract of blood cells (amoebocytes) from the Atlantic horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus.

It was later recognized that the animal’s blood cells contain granules with a clotting factor known as coagulogen; this is released outside the cell when bacterial endotoxin is encountered. Resulting coagulation is thought to contain bacterial infections in the animal’s semi-closed circulatory system.

LAL reacts with bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Test for endotoxins is performed in compliance with Europe pharmacopeia test 2.6.14.

Useful links
Recommended products
Dual-labeled hydrolysis probes

Dual-labeled hydrolysis probes Dual-labeled hydrolysis probes

The technology of dual-labeled hydrolysis probes (also called TaqMan® real-time PCR probes) exploits the 5 ́-3 ́ exonuclease activity of Taq DNA polymerase to cleave the probe. TaqMan real-time PCR probes are labeled with a fluorescent dye (reporter) at the 5´ end and with a quencher at the 3´ end.

More
Recommended articles