Beyond Animal Testing – A Novel Alternative method for Detecting Skin Sensitizing Chemicals
Posted Wednesday, May 26, 2010
In Europe, two pieces of legislation, REACH and Amendment VII to the Cosmetics Directive, have accelerated the development of alternative toxicology testing methods. CeeTox’ Dr. James McKim was interviewed on the benefits of using in vitro methods, rather than in vivo testing on animals, which can predict not only whether a chemical or cosmetic product will be negative or positive as a sensitizer (upon repeated dermal exposure, the chemical induces an immunological response) but also places it in a potency category. This method offers a rapid, cost effective method of identifying chemical sensitizers without the use of animals.