Alpha Laboratories adds non-animal-derived endotoxin detector to range

Published: 2-Sep-2024

The UK-based laboratory supplier has brought FUJIFILM Wako's PYROSTAR Neo+, a wildlife-conscious recombinant alternative to the conventional LAL assay, to its range of laboratory solutions

In line with its sustainability ethics, Alpha Laboratories has introduced the new PYROSTAR (trademarked) Neo+ from FUJIFILM Wako.

Alpha Laboratories told Cleanroom Technology that although it is only distributing this product in the UK, the product is available in regions outside the UK through FUJIFILM Wako itself.

This endotoxin detection reagent has been developed by recombinant technology to provide a synthetic LAL assay alternative.

This innovative product offers a non-animal-derived solution for bacterial endotoxin testing (BET) in research, pharmaceutical, and medical equipment manufacturing.

Conventionally, LAL reagents are sourced from Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs. Over 1 million crabs have been bled in 2022 for the reagent.

PYROSTAR Neo+ helps reduce the impact on wildlife, while facilitating the same high sensitivity as PYROSTAR ES-F.

Alpha Laboratories also clarified to Cleanroom Technology that this "same high sensitivity" is when compared to other non-animal-derived reagents.

"This is compared to other non-animal-derived reagents where there is more lot-to-lot variation as it uses different sources of the horseshoe crab blood for the reagent," the spokesperson said.

How does it work?

PYROSTAR Neo+ utilises a recombinant 3 Factor system that replicates the equivalent cascade reaction of traditional LAL assays.

The reagent boasts improved specificity with the absence of Factor G, and eliminates interference due to reaction with β-glucan. Additionally, it has an optimised formulation to support handling of difficult sample matrices which cause interference.

The reagent is compliant with the 3Rs principles of replacement; reduction, and refinement of animal testing

The Neo+ reagent contains a pNA chromogenic group, enabling detection of the assay results on an absorbance plate reader using a colourimetric method recombinant cascade reagent (rCR) assay.

The endotoxin test offers clear ethical and environmental advantages over the traditional LAL test, including its compliance with the 3Rs principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing.

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