A rapid test for endotoxin in whole blood.

A rapid whole blood agglutination test has been developed for the detection of endotoxin. The test reagent consists of polymyxin B (PmB) conjugated to the Fab fragment of the anti-glycophorin antibody 1C3/86. After addition of reagent to whole blood, red cell agglutination occurs within two minutes in samples from endotoxaemic patients or with the addition of either whole Gram negative bacteria, supernatants from Gram negative bacterial cultures or purified endotoxin. In clinical samples there was a strong correlation (r = 0.83) between the strength of agglutination and the level of endotoxin measured by the Limulus amaebolysate test (LAL). The prospect of a rapid and accurate test for endotoxin may enable better clinical management of Gram negative sepsis.