ALTEX :: Alternatives to Animal Experiments

1996, Volume 3

Different Concepts for Risk Assessment Have to Be Applied if the Data Are Derived from Testing in Animals or from Testing In Vitro

Horst Spielmann

ZEBET (Zentralstelle zur Erfassung und Bewertung von Ersatz- und Ergänzungsmethoden zum Tierversuch) im BgVV (Bundesinstitut für gesundheitlichen Verbraucherschutz und Veterin&aul;rmedizin), D-Berlin

SUMMARY

In vitro tests are well accepted by toxicologist for mechanistic studies but they have so far not been able to replace testing in animals for regulatory purposes, as e.g. risk assessment and risk management. This is basically due to differences in the quality of results obtained from in vivo and in vitro studies. Therefore, a new concept for risk assessment and risk management is proposed which is entirely based upon data from in vitro tests.

Keywords: alternative test, in vitro toxicology, risk assessment, risk management