Category: Everyday Science | Last updated: 2026-09-18

Which unique property of horseshoe crab blood makes it essential for testing the safety of vaccines and medical devices?

A) It is naturally fluorescent, allowing for easy detection of impurities.
B) It contains a specialized clotting agent that detects bacterial endotoxins.
C) Its high oxygen-carrying capacity makes it a universal blood donor.
D) It can survive extreme temperatures, making it stable for transport.

Explanation

Horseshoe crab blood contains Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL), a substance that clots in the presence of even tiny amounts of bacterial endotoxins. This makes it invaluable for testing the sterility of injectable drugs, vaccines, and medical implants.

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