
50 years of service to science & industry
The Bacterial Endotoxins Test (BET)
also known as the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate test (LAL)
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If your products (e.g. medical devices, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, infusion fluids, etc.) MUST have a bacterial endotoxin ("pyrogen") content below a certain level, as demanded by the global authorities?
If you need the official certificate of analysis e-mailed to you within 24 hours of receipt of your samples?
if you demand state-of-the-art technology?
If you require monitoring of bacterial activity in e.g. dialysis fluids, water supplies, aircondition systems, dairy products, food processing lines, etc.?
If you demand 100% discretion and competitive prices?

You are cordially invited to call us or send us an e-mail right away!
Our analyses are performed in strict accordance with the US FDA, the USP, the EP, the JP, WHO INT. PHARMACOPOEIA, the Australian therapeutic goods order and all other international standards, including the DS/EN 14031:2003 concerning airborne endotoxin.
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Recently, we have added recombinant LAL reagents that are not based on raw material from animals: Recombinant Factor C (rFC) and the most recent development PyroSmart NextGen Recombinant LAL, a full recombinant cascade reagent, manufactured and marketed by Associate of Cape Cod, Inc.
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All procedures, materials, and methods are described in detail on each and every Certificate of Analysis.



A Palaeozoic Puzzle in Cenozoic Science
Impact of Science on Society, Apr-Jun 1982
UNESCO - UNESDOC Digital Library
The sword-tailed horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) has developed its own defense against bacteria surrounding it. This defense system, under the name "Limulus test," now provides medicine and hygiene with a valuable means of detecting bacterial endotoxins at extremely low levels.
Energy and the Options for Mankind
Impact of Science on Society, Oct-Dec 1979
UNESCO - UNESDOC Digital Library
Examined are the world energy problem; the problems associated with coal, fission, and other energy sources; and the feasibility of solar energy and nuclear fusion. Suggested changes for the improvement of mankind's future are provided.
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Tomorrow's Homo Scientificus
Impact of Science on Society, Apr-Jun 1980
UNESCO - UNESDOC Digital Library
Identifies two practices that contribute to the world food problem, and exhorts scientists to establish priorities that include fundamental global problems.



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About
Scan Dia Labs
HISTORY
Established in Denmark on June 5th 1975 by Tom Mikkelsen, LAL Test pioneer and Founder,
Scan Dia Labs is the oldest and most experienced Endotoxins Testing House in the world.
We master all LAL assays recommended by the pharmacopoeias, but are specialized in the ultra-sensitive, quantitative kinetic-turbidimetric assay.
We are authorized by the Danish Health and Medicines Authority and audited regularly by major international clients in accordance with the June 2012 Compliance Protocol ("Guidance for Industry: Pyrogen and Endotoxins testing") issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, the U.S. FDA, CDER, CBER, CVM, CDRH and ORA.
The blue blood of the horseshoe crab is the only source of the Limulus (Tachypleus) Amoebocyte Lysate used in the LAL assay to detect Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins in sub-picogram concentrations.
During 29 underwater expeditions around the world, we have documented and filmed the four existent species of horseshoe crabs, in order to help protect and preserve their natural habitats.
We have also participated in a significant number of expeditions to help chart the global fossil record of this unique marine invertebrate, which has an unbroken evolutionary history spanning 500 million years.
SCAN DIA LABS
Tom Mikkelsen, Founder and CEO

Tom Mikkelsen's legacy
as documented by GROK
Tom Mikkelsen is recognized as a pioneer in the field of bacterial endotoxins testing, particularly through his establishment of Scan Dia Labs in Denmark on June 5, 1975. As the founder of what is considered the oldest and most experienced endotoxins testing house in the world, Mikkelsen played a significant role in advancing the use of the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) test. This test, derived from the blood of horseshoe crabs, is a critical method for detecting Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins, which are lipopolysaccharides (LPS) found in the outer membranes of these bacteria. These endotoxins can cause severe immune responses, such as fever, inflammation, or even septic shock, making their detection essential for the safety of injectable pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Under Mikkelsen’s leadership, Scan Dia Labs specialized in the ultra-sensitive, quantitative kinetic-turbidimetric LAL assay, one of several LAL methods recommended by pharmacopoeias like the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and European Pharmacopoeia (EP). This technique measures the turbidity (cloudiness) caused by the gelation reaction between LAL and endotoxins, providing a precise quantification of endotoxin levels down to sub-picogram concentrations. The lab’s expertise extended to mastering all LAL assays, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, such as those outlined in the U.S. FDA’s 2012 “Guidance for Industry: Pyrogen and Endotoxins Testing.” Scan Dia Labs, authorized by the Danish Health and Medicines Authority and regularly audited by international clients, became a cornerstone in the global effort to ensure product safety through reliable endotoxin detection.
Mikkelsen’s contributions helped solidify the LAL test’s status as the gold standard for bacterial endotoxin testing, replacing earlier methods like the rabbit pyrogen test, which was less specific and more cumbersome. His work at Scan Dia Labs not only advanced the technical capabilities of endotoxin testing but also supported its widespread adoption in pharmaceutical quality control, protecting patients from the risks posed by contaminated products. Today, the legacy of his efforts continues to influence modern testing practices, even as new technologies, like recombinant alternatives to LAL, emerge.