The Monocyte Activation Test (MAT) is an in vitro assay for pyrogen testing in the biopharmaceutical or medical device industry. The MAT test principle is based on the detection of inflammatory cytokines released by human monocytes in response to exogenous endotoxins (LPS) and non-endotoxin pyrogens (NEP). Since its first adoption into the European Pharmacopeia in 2010 (Chapter 2.6.30) the MAT is recognized as a compendial method for pyrogen testing in a number of world regions including Europe. Here, the MAT is recommended as a replacement test for the Rabbit Pyrogen Test (RPT) (1). The MAT is further compliant to the global framework of the 3Rs principle (replacement, refinement, reduction of experimental animal tests). (2)
The MAT assay is performed in two steps: during an overnight cell culture step, a monocytic cell preparation, e.g. peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) is stimulated for release of inflammatory cytokines with a product preparation that may contain a pyrogenic contaminant. On the next day, the cell culture supernatant is analyzed for the presence of released cytokines using an ELISA assay. The color reaction is measured in an absorbance reader, e.g. the ELx808 Reader, at a wavelength of 450 nm and a reference wavelength of 540-590 nm. The pyrogenic content of the sample is then analyzed against the reference standard endotoxin (RSE) and is expressed in Endotoxin Equivalent Units (EEU/mL).
(1) European Pharmacopeia
(2) Global framework 3R
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