Fundamentals of Endotoxin Testing for Medical Device Manufacturers are Detailed in New Technical Brief

AGAWAM, MASS. — January 14, 2014 — The fundamentals of endotoxin testing for medical device manufacturers — from definition to assay acceptance criteria —are detailed in new technical brief available from Microtest Laboratories.

Bacterial endotoxins cause fever, septic shock, and other disease symptoms — and thus attract considerable regulatory scrutiny from such organizations as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention. Regulations require that devices that contact circulating blood or cerebrospinal fluid, or are used with intraocular products or in vitro fertilization procedures, are required to be endotoxin-free.

“The Fundamentals of Endotoxin Testing,” available for download at http://microtestlabs.com/endotoxin-testing, is a step-by-step information resource for medical device manufacturers discussing and detailing the:

• Definition of endotoxins;
• Various tests used for their detection;
• Use of depyrogenation and other ways to remove endotoxins;
• Types of devices that should be tested;
• Preparation and testing of samples;
• Options for sampling containers;
• Acceptance criteria for each of the assays; and
• Sources of official information, reference, and guidance.

“The Fundamentals of Endotoxin Testing” is authored by Steven Richter, Ph.D., said Steven Richter, Ph.D., president and scientific director of Microtest Laboratories — and a former FDA official.

Download the brief from: http://microtestlabs.com/endotoxin-testing.

The paper is one in a series about testing, manufacturing, and regulatory issues of concern for medical device manufacturers from Microtest Laboratories, a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.

About Microtest Laboratories

Microtest Laboratories is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. It was founded in 1984. The company’s expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, speed time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. Microtest’s unique single-source capability to provide testing and manufacturing solutions allows the firm to support a full pharmaceutical or medical device product release. The company’s facilities in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA include state-of-the-art aseptic manufacturing areas; analytical chemistry, microbiological, and virological laboratories; Class 100 clean rooms; onsite steam and ethylene oxide sterilization, plus depyrogenation capabilities; purified water systems; and voice/data systems. For more information, visit http://www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680. Follow Microtest Laboratories on Twitter @MicrotestLabs on Facebook at http://goo.gl/TndoBg.

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