LAL test is used for the detection and quantification of bacterial endotoxins:
Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) is an aqueous extract of blood cells (amoebocytes) from
the horseshoe crab, Limulus polyphemus. LAL reacts with bacterial endotoxin or
lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a membrane component of Gram negative bacteria.
The solution of endotoxins containing preparation is added to the lysate derived from
heamolymph cells of horseshoe crab (limulus polymhemus). The result of the reaction is
turbidity or precipitation or gelation of the mixture. This is used as a quantitative measure
to estimate the endotoxin content. The rate of reaction depends upon conc. of endotoxins,
pH, temperature and presence of clotting enzyme system and clottable proteins from lysate.