PYROGEN TEST
    PYROGEN: A CHEMICAL WHICH AFFECTS THE HYPOTHALAMUS, 
    WHICH REGULATES THE BODY TEMPERATURE.
   PYROGENICITY
   Ability to cause a change in body temperature 
    In humans endotoxins cause an increase in 
    temperature which is a fever response.
   Pyrogenic effect is indirect: the active chemical 
    agent that causes the temperature change is an 
    endogenous pyrogen that is released from blood 
    leucocytes under the influence of endotoxins.
   This pyrogen affects the hypothalamus of the 
    brain which regulates body temperature.
   PYROGEN TEST
   Pyrogen test defines a process used by drug 
    manufactures to determine if bacteria toxins are 
    present in vaccines and drugs that might cause 
    fever when used on humans.
   It determines if microbes or their metabolites are 
    present in intravenous solutions during the 
    manufacturing process.
   RABBIT PYROGEN TEST
   The most common and oldest form of pyrogen 
    testing consists of injection of drugs into rabbits 
    to determine if a fever develops.
   The rabbit pyrogen testing method surfaced in 
    the 1940’s after some patients became ill from 
    intravenous drugs.
   The rabbit pyrogen test is commonly conducted 
    for detecting possible pyrogen contamination in 
    injectable pharmaceuticals. 
   HUMAN RESPONSE TO PYROGEN
   The human body fights exposure to bacterial 
    toxins in the environment through the skin.
   When contaminated drugs are injected into the 
    bloodstream, toxins bypass normal defense 
    mechanisms. 
   WBC’s begin releasing another form of pyrogen 
    that causes high fever which might lead to shock 
    and death.