Archive
Eye Irritation Test using Reconstructed Human Corneal Epithelium (RhCE) Models (EIT, OECD 492)
August 24, 2016The Eye Irritation Test (EIT) is an OECD-approved in vitro non-animal test method for identifying chemicals and mixtures that may be irritating to the corneal epithelium. The test method utilizes an in vitro reconstructed human corneal epithelium (RhCE) model (EpiOcular™, MatTek Corp. or HCE, SkinEthic™), in an acute exposure assay to support international regulatory labeling requirements, according to the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UN GHS). The Eye Irritation Test can be used to support...
Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP, OECD 437) with Optional Histology
August 24, 2016The BCOP (Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability) assay is an in vitro eye irritation test method developed by Gautheron et al. (1992), which uses living bovine corneal tissue, obtained as a by-product from abattoirs, to evaluate the potential ocular irritancy of a test article. Types of injury caused by exposure to the test article are quantitatively measured by changes in opacity and permeability to fluorescein. The BCOP assay allows for the investigation of the mechanism of the damage caused. Corneal opacity...
Eye Irritation Time-to-Toxicity Test using Reconstructed Human Corneal Epithelium (RhCE) Models
August 24, 2016The ocular irritation potential of formulations, products, ingredients, and chemicals can be evaluated using in vitro reconstructed human corneal epithelium (RhCE) models, such as the EpiOcular™ (MatTek Corp.) and SkinEthic HCE (EPISKIN) organotypic 3-D tissue constructs. Whether evaluating ultra-mild cosmetics and personal care products, or rank ordering the irritation potential of candidate formulations and ingredients, we can provide custom Ocular Screening protocols to best meet your testing goals. The Ocular Screening protocols use a time-to-toxicity procedure to determine the test material...
Household & Cleaning Products
August 24, 2016The majority of the products manufactured or sold by the Household and Cleaning Products industry are subject to the requirements of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) which mandates that the product have appropriate safety labeling. The FHSA does not specifically require animal testing be conducted to determine if a hazard is present, but historically many companies have used animal testing for this purpose – and have continued to do so because of lack of familiarity with newer, non-animal methods. IIVS...
Specialty Chemical
August 24, 2016Specialty chemicals are chemical products identified on the basis of their performance or function, rather than their composition. They can be single-chemical entities or formulations and cover a wide range of product categories such as consumer products, cosmetics, food additives, manufacturing, etc. As a result, testing for these chemicals can include a wide range in the irritation spectrum, from materials that are classified as mild irritants to those that are designated as corrosive. The testing needs also cover a wide range...
Corrositex (OECD 435)
August 23, 2016The Corrositex® assay is a standardized and quantitative in vitro test developed as a replacement for the dermal corrosivity rabbit test. The Corrositex kit, manufactured by In Vitro International (IVI), uses a proprietary biobarrier membrane to model the skin for evaluating the potential dermal corrosivity of a test material. A test material is evaluated based on its penetration through the biobarrier membrane into a Chemical Detection System (CDS). The time required for the test material to break through the biobarrier and into the CDS is...
Momentum Grows for Modernizing the US EPA “Six-pack” Battery of Acute Toxicity Tests
January 13, 2016In the current global regulatory climate favorable for further advancement of in vitro test methods, the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is driving significant efforts in the United States. The latest endeavor targets the modernization of the battery of acute toxicity tests classically known as the “six-pack” (Fig. 1a). Known for many years as an “all in vivo” testing strategy for products registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the six-pack has recently been revised to include...
Predicting Ocular Irritation of Surfactants Using the Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability Assay
January 1, 2014The Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability (BCOP) assay is an ex vivo test used to evaluate ocular irritation. According to the OECD Test Guideline (TG) 437, the BCOP assay can be used to identify chemicals which induce severe/corrosive eye irritation and those that do not require classification. However, BCOP has historically under-predicted certain anionic surfactants, when tested according to the standard liquid protocol. Since neither the basis for selecting the appropriate surfactant test methods, nor the justification for modifications are...