Comparison of the standard pour plate procedure and the ATP and Limulus amebocyte lysate procedures for the detection of microbial contamination in intravenous fluids.

The intrinsic and extrinsic microbial contamination of large-volume parenterals has been associated with bacteremias in hospitalized patients. When epidemiologic data suggest the association of contaminated intravenous (i.v.) fluids with disease, appropriate laboratory methods must be devised to analyze quickly the suspect fluid. A study was undertaken to compare three laboratory test methods (standard pour plate [SPP] technique, ATP procedure, and Limulus amebocyte lysate [LAL] assay) for detecting the presence of microorganisms in artificially contaminated i.v. fluid. SPP proved the most sensitive of the assay techniques used, but a 24-h period was required for microbial growth. The LAL assay appeared more sensitive in detecting i.v. contamination than the ATP method. These studies suggest that the LAL and ATP methods can be used for the rapid detection of microbial contamination in i.v. fluid. SPP and LAL procedures would have practical laboratory application when the contamination of i.v. fluids is suspected, and they are more sensitive in detecting microbial contamination in these solutions than the ATP method.