Friday, July 18, 2025

Search

Horseshoe Crabs Get a Break With Release of New Standard

The breeding time for horseshoe crabs is May-June. If found upside down onshore
File Photo
Horseshoe crabs on a Delaware Bay beach in Cape May County.

By Karen Knight

The U.S. Pharmacopeia, a nonprofit that helps set quality standards for the pharmaceutical industry, has announced a new standard that guides companies wishing to transfer their testing for endotoxins away from the use of horseshoe crab blood to new synthetic recombinant agents that do not use the blood of a wild animal.

The new standard is a victory for an ancient species loved by many and valued by conservationists for its important role in preserving healthy ecosystems along the Atlantic Coast, according to the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition, a group of more than 50 conservation and health-care organizations.

Something on your mind? Spout about it!

Spout submissions are anonymous!

600 characters remaining

Check out the new Spout Off!

Most Read

Print Editions

Recommended Articles