Abstract
A micro method, Limulus lysate assay, has been used to determine the presence, or otherwise, of endotoxin in the emuents of various groups of CAPD patients. Endotoxin, a freely diffusable product of most gramnegative organisms was not detected in emuents of 11 asymptomatic trainers. Only 1/33 proven gram positive episodes of peritonitis and 1/21 patients with illnesses other than peritonitis were positive for endotoxin.
However only 7/10 proven cases of gram-negative peritonitis were positive for endotoxin. Thus, in its present state, the test is neither sensitive nor specific enough to be a reliable, rapid method of diagnosing gram-negative peritonitis. Only 1/24 cases of “culture-negative” peritonitis yielded a positive Limulus lysate test.
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