title: Detection of endotoxin in cerebrospinal and joint fluids by limulus assay.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and joint fluid from 81 patients were studied for the presence of endotoxin using the limulus assay. All fluids that grew Gram-negative organisms had a positive limulus test. However, one sample of CSF and one of joint fluid, both very purulent, that contained Gram-positive organisms also gave positive limulus assays. All culturally negative fluids had a negative limulus assay. Thus, a positive limulus assay with CSF or joint fluid is indicative of bacterial infection probably caused by Gram-negative organisms and can be an extremely useful diagnostic adjunct.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D006737:Horseshoe Crabs; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins