TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Veterinary Research Institute has developed a new testing reagent that can replace horseshoe crab blood for detecting bacteria in veterinary drugs.

The new testing method is more costly than using horseshoe crab blood, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, but should improve the survivability of the species, per CNA.

Horseshoe crabs have blue blood that holds high medical value. It is commonly used to produce reagents for vaccine and drug development. These reagents are extremely sensitive and respond quickly. When mixed with an injectable solution, they clot or change color if harmful bacteria are present.

However, the harvesting of horseshoe crab blood has put the species at risk. They take 10 to 15 years to reach maturity, and studies show that about 30% die after being bled by humans.

The blood extraction can also hinder the reproduction of female crabs. These factors have raised concerns about the species' survival and have led to it being classified as endangered in some regions.

In 2004, the Fisheries Research Institute began applying these reagents in clinical medicine, environmental monitoring, and food safety. After being processed the blood is valued at approximately NT$500,000 (US$15,625) per liter. To ensure a stable domestic supply, the institute has established a horseshoe crab breeding facility in Taiwan.

While traditional Chinese medicine texts describe the horseshoe crab as beneficial for kidney function and improving vitality, its consumption may pose significant health risks. In 2022, a man in Pingtung had acute liver failure after drinking raw horseshoe crab blood. His condition only stabilized after treatment with three different antibiotics.

Hsu Chia-hsiang (許家祥), a traditional Chinese medicine physician at Pingtung Christian Hospital, said animal blood should always be disinfected and sterilized before being used in medicine. This is to prevent the risk of parasites and bacterial infections.