Limulus amoebocyte lysate endotoxin test: An aid to the diagnosis in the septic neonate?

A trial was undertaken of the Limulus amoebocyte lysate endotoxin assay for the diagnosis of Gram-negative infection in the pre-term infant. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were tested in 19 neonates of 33 weeks mean gestational age. In the plasma the assay only once detected endotoxin but was positive in the CSF of two cases of meningitis, in one case before cellular changes were present. Endotoxin was detected in the CSF of five other neonates who did not have meningitis but may have had endotoxaemia.