Written by Introduction
The endotoxin test is a microbiology test. It is used to detect the LPS content that may be present in vials or other containers of sterile products for medical, veterinary, and research purposes.
How it works
The test detects the beta-D-glucose component of lipopolysaccharides in bacteria to assess endotoxin activity. This glucose component can be detected by an enzyme-linked silver stain or by a colorimetric assay using ortho-phenylenediamine (OPD). The test works by incubating the bacterial culture with an enzyme labeled with the silver stain and then verifying that no reaction occurs. Endotoxins may respond to several different methods of detection; therefore, this method is sometimes not used as a final test.
Usage
This test is one of several tests utilized in a microbiological analysis; it identifies bacteria in a sample as having end-speciated endotoxin activity. This test is widely used in veterinary and human medicine as a last-resort screening procedure for potentially dangerous microorganisms.
If one is dealing with endotoxin test results that are negative, one knows that there are no viable bacteria present in the sample. An environment is considered "sterile" when the results of the endotoxin test are negative. The test can also be used to determine if endotoxins have been removed from a contaminated sample. The chymotrypsin lipase test can also be used to determine if any endotoxins remain which may be present in a sample.
Molecular biology lab services
Molecular biology lab services can be used to perform a more sophisticated test than the simple endotoxin test. This method uses oligonucleotides (DNA probes) and fluorescently labeled nucleotides to specifically detect LPS. These different methods are now well established in both clinical and research settings, where rapid identification of pathogens is critical.
This test is a specific immunochemical test that detects the presence of endotoxin in a bacterial culture. It is very important because it can indicate if there are any LPS present in the culture, regardless of their quantity. The detection of endotoxins is vital because their presence will indicate the presence of bacteria and thus promote an infection.
Microbiology tests
Microbiology tests detect the presence or absence of microorganisms in a sample. There are a variety of methods used to test samples, and the choice of which test will be used is dependent on many factors, including cost, the time required for testing, and the type of sample being tested.
This method for detecting endotoxin activity has been widely accepted because it is both rapid and relatively inexpensive. It was developed in the 1970s by a team led by Phil Berman at Proctor & Gamble (Cincinnati). The oxygenase method is a very simple test that can be performed in approximately one hour.
Conclusion
The use of the endotoxin test can help to ensure a person is not exposed to bacteria and their activity, which may lead to infection. In clinical settings, clinical personnel needs to be aware of the presence of LPS in a sample as this can become an infection source. The FDA has also recognized this testing method and has authorized its use as a standard test for all pre-packaged medical products.
