In human beings, endotoxemia is a serious and often deadly condition. which can be induced by trauma and shock. The protective membrane that separates the intestinal lining from the bloodstream breaks down and endotoxins flood the circulatory system. The prevention of endotoxin contamination is not only a healthy endeavor it is also big business. Injectable medicines, surgical instruments and fluids, dialysis tubing and other internal devices must not only be sterile but endotoxin-free else they could cause endotoxemia in people receiving them. Companies providing such materials spend large amounts of money to ensure these products are endotoxin-free.
Rabbits are susceptible to endotoxin just as humans are.
A tiny amount of a suspect solution can be injected into a rabbit. Should the rabbit develop a fever, the presence of endotoxin is indicated. Aside from the costs and ethical concerns raised in the use of large rabbit facilities, there are other problems with this method. One is that the rabbit assay can take up to 48 hours to return a definitive result. A more effective method would be to develop some other method to detect endotoxin.