Bioburden vs. Endotoxin — What's the Difference?

Bioburden is normally defined as the number of bacteria living on a surface that has not been sterilized.The term is most often used in the context of bioburden testing, also known as microbial limit testing, which is performed on pharmaceutical products and medical products for quality control purposes. Products or components used in the pharmaceutical or medical field require control of microbial levels during processing and handling.

A toxin produced by certain bacteria and released upon destruction of the bacterial cell.

A measure of an object's contamination with microorganisms.

Any toxin secreted by a microorganism and released into the surrounding environment only when it dies.

A toxin that is confined inside the microorganisms and is released only when the microorganisms are broken down or die