LAL Non-Endotoxin Reactivity - Surprisingly Non-specific

Nature abounds in producing a variety of molecules. This is good thing, however, endotoxin detection requirement for an analytical assay “specificity”. Unfortunately, LAL has been found to be increasingly non-specific since the inception its use lieu rabbit pyrogen test. Fortunately, there are viable workarounds terms using Limulus-based testing where non-endotoxin reactive substance false-reactivity problematic. In testing, just as metazoan immune potential microbial invaders, context everything. The horseshoe crab from which derived swims and crawls on beach interface that teems with Gram Negative bacteria (GNB), estimated by some at over 10⁶ CFUs/mL. this context, extreme sensitivity Limulus hemolymph GNB evolved eons. However, it also detect many other substances relevant sea/shore paradigm. includes especially glucans fungi algae/lichens (also widely terrestrial plants) cellulose mannans sugars.