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Enhancement of the Sensitivity of the Limulus Assay for the Detection of Gram Negative Bacteria
Author(s) -
COATES D. A.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1977.tb00714.x
Subject(s) - limulus , bacteria , gram negative bacteria , gram , chemistry , chromatography , microbiology and biotechnology , assay sensitivity , acetic acid , biology , biochemistry , escherichia coli , medicine , gene , alternative medicine , pathology , paleontology , genetics
1 In the Limulus pyrogen assay a linear relationship has been demonstrated between optical density and viable cell number of the strains of Gram negative bacteria studied. 2 When the bacteria are suspended in a solution of 0.9% saline and 10 ‐5 M‐ethylenediamine‐tetra‐acetic acid (EDTA) the sensitivity of the assay is markedly improved and the variation between different species or strains is greatly reduced. 3 The Limulus assay is able to detect fewer than 10 3 of the least reactive Gram negative bacteria studied within 1 h. It is being developed as a rapid method for detecting Gram negative contamination in raw materials and products.