The monocyte activation response assay (MAT) is used to detect contaminants that activate human monocytes to release tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which are pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis of fever. Therefore, MAT can detect pyrogen contained in the test product. The pyrogen that can be detected by monocyte activation response assay (MAT) includes endotoxin and non-endotoxin pyrogen, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and so on that cause human fever.
