Endotoxin contamination of single-use sterile surgical gloves.

Aim: Strict endotoxin limits are enforced for implants and catheters inserted into the body. However, no standard limit has been set for single-use sterile surgical gloves. Materials & methods: Four types of gloves sold in Japan were dipped in saline and that endotoxin levels were measured. Cytokine producing activity of gloves in blood was also measured. Results: Three of the four types of gloves showed endotoxin contamination. We also confirmed an increase in cytokine production in these gloves except one glove in which anionic surfactants was found. Conclusion: The extent to which detected endotoxins enter the body during surgery is controversial, but strict endotoxin limits need to be established.

A dextran-based warming method for preparing leukocyte-rich plasma and its clinical application for endotoxin assay.

We devised a method using dextran for obtaining leukocyte-rich plasma (LRP) to measure endotoxin in blood. In order to find the optimal temperature for obtaining LRP, the measurement results were examined using samples prepared at 37 and 0°C. Sample separation time of LRP was significantly shorter at 37°C than at 0°C. Endotoxin measurement values showed a strong correlation between the two groups but many of the LRPs made at 37°C had measurements above those of the LRPs prepared at 0°C. The diagnostic accuracy for gram-negative bacterial infection was superior for LRP prepared at 37°C, with sensitivity and specificity of 96.8 and 100%, respectively.