def getLowerDetectionLimit(self):
        """Returns the Lower Detection Limit (LDL) that applies to this
        analysis in particular. If no value set or the analysis service
        doesn't allow manual input of detection limits, returns the value set
        by default in the Analysis Service
        """
        if self.isLowerDetectionLimit():
            result = self.getResult()
            try:
                # in this case, the result itself is the LDL.
                return float(result)
            except (TypeError, ValueError):
                logger.warn("The result for the analysis %s is a lower "
                            "detection limit, but not floatable: '%s'. "
                            "Returnig AS's default LDL." %
                            (self.id, result))
        return AbstractBaseAnalysis.getLowerDetectionLimit(self)