Test battery approach

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

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

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. 

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... 

In discussing the developments and applications of bioassays to liquid media and to sediments, we have placed some emphasis on the types of chemicals and environmental samples that have been appraised, on the types and frequency of biotic level(s) employed, as well as on the relative use of single species tests as opposed to test battery approaches. 

Of the 188 studies reported in Tables 1, 2 and 3, more than half (n = 101) were conducted with two or more tests representing at least two biotic levels (i.e., test battery approach or TBA), as opposed to those performed with a single biotic level (n = 87). While test and biotic level selection may be based on a variety of reasons and study objectives (e.g., practicality, cost, personnel availability), preference for TBAs can also be influenced by the need to assess hazard at different levels so as not to underestimate toxicity. Indeed, contaminants can demonstrate trophic-level specificity (e.g., phytototoxic effects of herbicides) or they can exert adverse effects at multiple levels (e.g., particular sensitivity of cladocerans toward heavy metals in contrast to bacteria). When TBAs are used, they are mostly conducted with two, three or four trophic levels (Tab. 4). 

Table 4. Frequency of the number of biotic levels employed in test battery approaches (TBAs) for complex liquid media assessment based on the 101 TBA papers classified in Tables 1-3.

Table 12. Frequency of use of specific biotic levels employed in toxicity testing (TT) and test battery approaches (TBA) for sediment assessment based on the 75 papers classified in Tables 9 and 10.

In undertaking our search of the literature linked to bioanalytical assessment of solid waste leachates (Tab. 2), we circumscribed it to small-scale toxicity testing performed on leachates. Furthermore, we did not exclude marine bioassays, but we exclusively selected literature references involving test battery approaches (TBAs) on solid wastes (or their elutriates). As defined previously in the first chapter of this book, a TBA represents a study conducted with two or more tests representing at least two biotic levels. As also pointed out in Section 2 of this chapter, TBAs are suitable to assess hazard at different levels so as not to underestimate ecotoxicity. Nevertheless, we have not excluded from this review publications describing other types of bioassays (e.g., terrestrial bioassays, sub-cellular bioassays or those carried out with recombinant DNA (micro)organisms and biosensors), when those were part of the TBA. 

Test battery approach - At least 2 relevant aquatic bioassays... 

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