Test battery, toxicological

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],... 

Luster, M.I. et al., Development of a testing battery to assess chemical-induced immunotoxicity National Toxicology Program s guidelines for immunotoxicity evaluation in mice, Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 10, 2, 1988. 

Luster, M.L., Munson, A.E., Thomas, P.T., Holsapple, M.P., Fenters, J.D., White, K.L., Jr., Lauer, L.D., Germolec, D.R., Rosenthal, G.J. and Dean, J.H. (1988). Development of a testing battery to assess chemical-induced immunotoxicity National Toxicology Program s Guidelines for Immunotoxicity Evaluation in Mice. Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 10 2-19. 

The current situation reflects the significant advances made in toxicology since 1985 (Gad, 1996 and 2001). It is rare to see a pharmaceutical or device researched and developed with the use of other than an extensively commingled in vivo and in vitro test battery. This is reflected in the use of what may be termed a mixed test battery. The principles behind the development of these batteries are as follows. 

Luster, M. I., A. E. Munson, P. T. Thomas, M. P. Holsapple, J. D. Fenters, K. L. White, L. E. Lauer, D. R. Germolec, G. J. Rosenthal, and J. H. Dean. Development of a testing battery to assess chemical-induced immunotoxicity National Toxicology Program s guidelines for immunotoxicity evaluation in mice. Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 10 2-19, 1988. 

Fochtman, P., Raszka, A. and Nierzedska, E. (2000) The use of conventional bioassays, microbiotests, and some rapid methods in the selection of an optimal test battery for the assessment of pesticides toxicity, Environmental Toxicology 15 (5), 376-384. 

Extracts of recycled paper in a toxicological test battery... 

In order to answer those needs specified above, a collaborative effort (BIOSAFEPAPER) was undertaken in the fifth EU framework programme. In this project, coordinated by the University of Kuopio, Finland, nine European research institutes and 16 industrial partners aimed at establishing a test battery with relevant toxicological endpoints and allowing a decision-tree approach to ensure consumer safety. An important aspect of the undertaking was also the development of extraction procedures compatible with the tests and reflecting real-life conditions. 

Two different test batteries, the World Health Organization (WHO) Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery and the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES), are currently the most widely used test batteries in occupational behavioral toxicology studies. Both include components of the WAIS described previously in addition to other psychometric tests of behavioral function. The WHO Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery is a pencil and paper-administered test battery, whereas the NES is a computerized test battery that has been translated into several languages and in fact presents a more extensive set of tests than does the WHO in that it includes tests of psychomotor performance, cognition, memory and learning, and perceptual ability and affect. 

One final common inclusion in many studies of occupational behavioral toxicology and in some test batteries is assessments of symptoms experienced by those exposed to chemicals. While this might be perceived as an ostensibly simple procedure, it entails numerous potential confounds. These evaluations are typically administered via questionnaires. Items for the questionnaire must be carefully constructed with respect to not only the choices of items but also the wording of the text and the manner in which the response is recorded. Clearly, the motivation of the subject in answering the questions must be considered. One problem can arise when the list of symptoms includes only those that are associated with the toxicant of concern. It is necessary to include symptoms that are not associated with the particular toxicant under evaluation so that some assessment of the tendency of the subject to respond positively to all symptoms can be evaluated. Several such evaluations of subjective and mood states are available. The most widely used is the Profile of Mood States (POMS), which consists of 65 adjectives of various moods that the subject answers according to a 5-point rating scale. The POMS has been used extensively in the evaluation of the acute effects of CNS drugs and toxicants. 

Ethanol is a widely used and often abused chemical substance. Consequently the measurement of ethanol is one of the more frequently performed tests in the toxicology laboratory. Although less frequently encountered, it is important to include methanol, isopropanol, and acetone (a metabolite of isopropanol) in a test battery for alcohols for proper evaluation of the acutely intoxicated patient. 

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