Limulus amebocyte lysate - a means to monitor inactivation of lipopolysaccharide.

A properly selected Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) has been demonstrated to have a good correlation with the in vivo United States Pharmacopeial pyrogen test when testing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inactivated with ethylene oxide, 60 Co irradiation, and dry-heat treatments. Thus, LAL may be used to determine degradation or depyrogenation kinetics of LPS. A criteria for acceptance of an LAL lot for correlation with the USP pyrogen test is described.