ABSTRACT
The ultimate goal, of course, is to be able to accurately and precisely measure endotoxin in body fluids in order to better understand its clinical implications. In the context of this chapter, chemical assays for endotoxin are those defined as analytical procedures that recognize and quantify either the entire endotoxin molecule or any part of the endotoxin molecule through a chemical reaction or signal, including binding to a specific ligand. In the SepTest trial and a few other studies, whole blood was used in an attempt to detect all circulating endotoxin, free, bound, or even internalized in cells. The limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay has also been coupled with specific antibodies as the capture agents as will be discussed below. The LAL test is perhaps the most widespread assay for endotoxin currently in use in the world. Its utility for the detection of endotoxin in human blood has been extensively reviewed.
