October 1998 News

Cheaper, Less Painful Skin Test Approved by ICCVAM

October 19, 1998

An alternative method for testing chemicals that may cause allergic contact dermatitis has been approved by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM). The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is both a reduction alternative and refinement alternative, because it requires fewer animals and causes less pain than the standard test. The LLNA also is cheaper and less time consuming.

This is the first test approved by ICCVAM, a U.S. committee established to assist federal agencies in evaluating alternative methods. The LLNA now will be referred to regulatory agencies for acceptance and implementation.

ICCVAM's approval process took a remarkably short time; an independent peer committee was asked to evaluate the LLNA in June and approved it by mid-September.

Two other tests are scheduled to be reviewed by ICCVAM in early 1999: a dermal corrosivity test and a developmental toxicity screening method.

Now that ICCVAM has a workable process for validation in place, the committee hopes to work with European groups such as the Organization for Economic and Community Development to harmonize standards. Such international cooperation would mean that methods accepted for use in the United States could be approved quickly in Europe, and vice versa.

Details about ICCVAM, the approval process, and plans for future activities are available on the new ICCVAM Web site here.