Test battery

Amler RW, Anger WK, Sizemore OJ, eds. 1995. Adult environmental neurobehavioral test battery. 

WHO. 1990. WHO neurobehavioral core test battery. In Johnson BL, ed. Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on Neurobehavioral Methods in Environmental and Occupational Health, Washington, DC, Dec 14-17, 1988. Chelsea, Ml Lewis Publishers 225-244. 

Historically, the HRB NP test, the most widely used and well-validated of all NP test batteries, takes from 6 to 8 hours for complete administration. Reducing an established test battery to a 2- to 3-hour structured assessment procedure requires the use of selected subtests those most sensitive to PCP-induced brain dysfunction. The development and validation of briefer screening batteries, which represent a reduction in the total number of subtests used, professional time, and expense is an emergent trend (Hartlage and Mains 1982, Reynolds et al. 1983). Based on our literature review and results of a pilot sample study of 30 PCP and polydrug abusers, the following subtests are recommended for inclusion in a brief NP assessment battery. 

In vitro tools could be used alone or in test batteries with increased potency of the description of cellular events and changes. The chapter provides a brief introduction on the components of an in vitro system, the main differences between models for research and models for testing and a list of validated alternative methods according to the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM) (http // ecvam.jrc.it/, http //ecvam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/) evaluation. 

In vitro tools could be used alone or in test batteries. Multiple endpoint batteries increase the power of the evaluation because they provide information of different cellular functions. This information can be useful to investigate the mode of action of toxicity and to provide data regarding the mechanistic nature of the toxicological effects of the chemical [8],... 

STANDARDIZATION OF ANTIGEN RETRIEVAL TECHNIQUES BASED ON THE TEST BATTERY APPROACH... 

TABLE 1.1 Test Battery Suggested for Screening an Optimal Antigen Retrieval Protocol... 

TABLE 1.2 Randomly Selected Examples of Test Battery Approach Documented... 

Roessner14 Epon-embedded AR protocol for test battery... 

Although the novel AR protocol using citraconic anhydride improved the intensity of IHC on FFPE tissue sections for more than half of the antibodies tested, compared to that achieved by other conventional AR protocols, not all antibodies benefitted, which would argue that the citraconic anhydride method does not serve as a truly universal AR protocol. Indeed, many investigators (Table 1.2) have concluded that different antigens may require different specific AR protocols. In this respect, the test battery is a convenient and cost-effective method for assessing the appropriate AR protocol.2,8 Nevertheless, the present data certainly support inclusion of the citraconic anhydride AR method in such a test battery. With respect to the two heating temperatures for citraconic anhydride, the ultimate choice of method for any laboratory may depend on the equipment available. 

In a study involving decalcified FFPE rat joint tissue sections and a variety of AR methods, Wilson et al.32 reported successful application of 0.2 M boric acid at pH 7.0 as the AR solution combining a low-temperature incubation (60°C for 17 h). The principal advantage of this AR protocol was that it minimized lifting or loss of decalcified hard tissue sections from charged slides. Their basic approach for establishing an optimal AR protocol was a test battery as described above. In a separate series of studies, based upon prior... 

ANTIBODY AND DETECTION SYSTEM -DEPENDENT TEST BATTERY... 

Standardization of AR technique should be based on the test battery principle. Achieving the maximal retrieval level of IffC staining intensity is a guideline for standardization. 

Three pH values (acidic, neutral, and basic AR solution), and three heating conditions (under boiling, boiling, and pressure heating) are recommended for the basic test battery. However, alternative procedures may be applied according to laboratory facilities and routine protocols as described above. Currently, citrate buffer pH 6.0, Tris-EDTA buffer pH 8-9, and certain AR solutions at lower pH, such as boric acid pH 2-3, or acidic acid buffer pH 2, as well as 0.05% citraconic anhydride pH 7.4, may be used to evaluate the optimal AR protocol. 

Shi SR, Cote RJ, Yang C, et al. Development of an optimal protocol for antigen retrieval a test battery approach exemplified with reference to the staining of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) in formalin-fixed paraffin sections. J. Pathol. 1996 179 347-352. 

Figure 5.1 Diagrammatic explanation of standardization of IHC via AR and test battery to achieve a maximal retrieval level by an optimal protocol of AR. The intensity of IHC (axis y) is inversely correlated with the time of formalin fixation (axis x) as indicated by a reduced slope. Three arrows indicate a potential maximal retrieval level that may equalize the intensity of IHC to a comparable result for routinely processed, paraffin-embedded tissues with various time of fixation. Reproduced with permission from Shi et alHistotechnol. 1999 22 177-192.

THE TEST BATTERY APPROACH OF ANTIGEN RETRIEVAL ( AR) TECHNIQUE... 

As described in Chapter 1, the test battery approach is a pretest to establish an optimal AR protocol, based on the fact that two major factors (heat and pH) influence the achievement of a satisfactory result of AR-immunohistochemistry (IHC). As indicated in Table 1.1, a total of nine slides are required to test three conditions of heating temperature, and three different pH values of the AR solutions. Practically, it may be performed in simpler ways as shown in Table 1.2. The following suggested protocol is based on our experience. 

The test battery approach is usually used for a new antibody as the first use in a lab. To begin with this new antibody, it is helpful to read the specification sheet of the manufacturer, and to review literature to ensure its application of IHC, particularly if AR was used previously. 

As documented by numerous publications, the key factor of heat-induced AR is high temperature heating formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections in water solution. For some antigens, certain optimized pH value of the AR solution and/or adjusted temperature may be required to reach the best result by the use of the test battery approach mentioned above. In 2005, Namimatsu et al. reported a novel AR solution containing 0.05% citraconic anhydride, pH 7.4, for heating FFPE tissue sections at 98°C for 45 min to... 

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