Archive
Video: The 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test — Portuguese
November 21, 2016This new training video with Portuguese subtitles explores a cell-based method for assessing Phototoxicity — or the potential for chemicals to cause damage after being exposed to light. The method is used widely around the world by many industries, including the cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors. Disclaimer: Please note that the procedures shown in this video were for demonstration purposes only and that all assay procedures, except the UV A/dark exposure, should be performed in a biological safety cabinet using aseptic techniques....
Webinar: How GLPs Enhance the Quality of Regulated and Non-Regulated Toxicology
October 18, 2016This one-hour webinar, led by IIVS Director of Quality and Compliance, introduces some of the concepts of Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs) designed to promote study and data integrity within an in vitro toxicology framework. Applying these concepts within your own laboratory should aid in production of robust, repeatable studies. View Slides...
Advancing Non-animal Testing Methods: First Set of Novel Knowledge Tools Published
October 18, 2016An adverse outcome pathway, or AOP, is a highly structured way of describing a toxicological process which can lead to an adverse health effect in humans or wildlife, caused by an unsafe exposure to a chemical substance. The first five adverse outcome pathways have now been published by experts. The AOPs are novel knowledge management tools in toxicology and are useful for supporting risk assessment to human health. They are also valuable for helping to avoid animal testing through the...
IIVS Announces Suite of Non-Animal Methods to Reduce Animal Testing for Skin Sensitization
September 6, 2016GAITHERSBURG, MD – September 6, 2016 – In response to a newly published OECD Test Guideline, IIVS announces the addition of the Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT, OECD TG 442E) to its suite of non-animal assays to determine skin sensitization. The assessment of skin sensitization has historically involved the use of laboratory animals; specifically guinea pigs and mice. In recent years, international research and validation efforts have paved the way for the use of non-animal methods. “Industry has provided the field...
3T3 Phototoxicity (OECD 432)
August 24, 2016The 3T3 Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) Phototoxicity assay is a 96-well cytotoxicity-based assay that utilizes BALB/c 3T3 mouse fibroblasts to measure the concentration-dependent reduction in neutral red uptake by the cells after exposure to a test material in the presence and absence of UVA light. Duplicate 96-well plates containing a monolayer of 3T3 cells are exposed to serial dilutions of a test material. One of the plates is exposed to 5 J/cm2 of UVA while the other plate is kept...
Human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT, OECD 442E)
August 24, 2016The human Cell Line Activation Test (h-CLAT) is a cell-based assay that identifies skin sensitizers by examining changes in the expression of cell surface markers (CD54 and CD86) implicated in dendritic cell activation, the third key event of the skin sensitization AOP. Following exposure of the THP-1 human monocyte cell line to the test substance, expression levels of CD54 and CD86 are quantified by flow cytometry and compared to controls. The method has been reviewed by the European Union Reference Laboratory for...
Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA, OECD 442C)
August 24, 2016The DPRA (OECD 442C) is an in chemico assay that models the first key event in the skin sensitization Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) - skin, protein reactivity. Compounds implicated in causing Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) are generally electrophilic in nature. This assay identifies dermal sensitizers based on their reactivity with synthetic peptides containing the nucleophilic amino acid residues lysine and cysteine. Using LC/UV, conjugation of the test material with the peptides can be analyzed. Trained by the developers of this assay (Procter & Gamble), IIVS...
Inflammatory Cytokine Expression
August 24, 2016Many manufacturers of personal care and cosmetic products expect (along with their customers) that their products will not irritate the skin. Unfortunately, many ingredients (e.g. surfactants, preservatives, emulsifiers and many other organic substances) have an inherent irritating property. Although other in vitro assays can predict irritancy vs. non-irritancy for purposes of regulatory compliance, many of these manufacturers need to differentiate between moderately irritating substances and those which are much milder. Some examples are: baby products, moisturizers or other products used...
Dermal Irritation Time to Toxicity
August 24, 2016Product development/product stewardship scientists and formulators typically find it desirable to compare or rank order the skin irritation potential of candidate formulations, or to monitor the impact of changes in formulations or ingredients on skin tolerance. Foremost, industry researchers need timely, accurate, cost-effective test results to help them get safer products to the marketplace. The Dermal Irritation Screening assay using a Time-to-Toxicity (ET50) protocol coupled with IIVS’ expertise in the methods help researchers meet their testing goals. The assay is designed...
Skin Irritation Test (SIT, OECD 439)
August 24, 2016Skin Irritation Test (SIT) in a Reconstructed Human Epidermis (RhE) Model Skin Irritation in the regulatory hazard classification and labeling context is defined as the production of reversible damage to skin following a defined chemical exposure. The Skin Irritation Test (SIT) is an in vitro, non-animal test designed to identify those chemicals and mixtures capable of inducing moderate skin irritation (UN GHS Category 2 Skin Irritants1), and to discriminate UN GHS Category 2 Skin Irritants from UN GHS 3 Mild Skin...