Quantitative Endotoxin Determination In Blood With A Chromogenic Substrate
A method, its optimalization and a solution to specific problems is described for the quantitative determination of endotoxins in blood. The method is based upon the endotoxin-dependent activation of a proenzyme, present in limulus ame- bocyte lysate. This activated enzyme is measured with the chromogenic substrate S2222. Possible inhibitors and activated coagulationfactors interfering in the assay are removed by dilution and boiling. The method is shown to be fast (2½ hr), sensitive and reproducible with a detection limit of 10 pg/ml.The endotoxin assay was found to have a good correlation with results of blood cultures.The detection threshold of the endotoxin assay compared with the number of circulating gramnegative organisms and CRD-measurements will also be shown.