Schematic presentation of spiking experiments—plasma from each patient was aliquoted and spiked with three different concentrations of control standard endotoxin (LPS) and each spiked sample was assayed using LAL reconstituted with different doses of glucan blocking buffer to calculate % spike recovery.

<p>* denotes manufacturer recommended dose of glucan blocking buffer (Charles Rivers ES-buffer ^®; Endotoxin-Specific buffer) containing 1 mg/mL of carboxymethylated curdlan.</p

Endotoxin signal detected using standard LAL without BG blocking buffer displayed by tertiles of (1–3)-β-D glucan.

<p>Endotoxin signal detected using standard LAL without BG blocking buffer displayed by tertiles of (1–3)-β-D glucan.</p

BG measurements of saline washout pre- and post-dialyzer.

<p>BG measurements of saline washout pre- and post-dialyzer.</p

Receiver operative curve (ROC) analysis using (1→3)-β-D glucan at cut-off level 62 pg/mL to predict those with detectable endotoxin signals using LAL(-).

<p>Receiver operative curve (ROC) analysis using (1→3)-β-D glucan at cut-off level 62 pg/mL to predict those with detectable endotoxin signals using LAL(-).</p

Clinical correlates of (1–3)-β-D glucan, endotoxin signals detected using LAL[–] and markers of inflammation.

<p>Clinical correlates of (1–3)-β-D glucan, endotoxin signals detected using LAL[–] and markers of inflammation.</p

Comparison of median spike recovery between LAL and LAL reconstituted with different doses of BG blocking buffer (ES buffer).

<p>Spike recoveries of 50–200% are considered acceptable [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0164978#pone.0164978.ref031" target="_blank">31</a>] [box plots represent median spike recovery with interquartile range, hashed horizontal line denotes the expected optimum spike recovery].</p

Spike recovery from plasma samples with undetectable endotoxin using different concentrations of glucan blocking buffers.

<p>Median spike recovery with interquartile ranges presented. Spike recoveries of 50–200% are considered acceptable [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0164978#pone.0164978.ref031" target="_blank">31</a>]. Significant P values (*) indicates spike recovery significantly different from expected % spike recovery.</p

Comparison of median spike recovery between LAL(-) and LAL(+) in plasma samples spiked with endotoxin (box plots represent median values with interquartile range, hashed horizontal line denotes the expected optimum spike recovery).

<p>Spike recoveries of 50–200% are considered acceptable [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0164978#pone.0164978.ref031" target="_blank">31</a>][LAL(-), standard LAL with no glucan blocking buffer; LAL(+), LAL reconstituted with Charles River^® ES-buffer containing 1mg/mL carboxymethylated curdlan].</p

Plasma endotoxin and (1–3)-β-D-glucan levels in patients with and without endotoxemia.

<p>Plasma endotoxin and (1–3)-β-D-glucan levels in patients with and without endotoxemia.</p

Relationship of GFR with the reciprocal of pre-dialysis plasma Cystatin C levels.

<p>GFR shown is calculated from the mean of urea and creatinine clearance. For the linear regression shown r² was 0.5.</p