SOAPS AND DETERGENTS - ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL EYE IRRITATION TESTS

An extensive computer search was conducted, and a comprehensive overvi ew of the current status of alternatives to animal eye irritation test s was obtained. A search of Medline and Toxline databases (1988 to pre sent) was supplemented with references from sources regarding in vitro eye irritation. Particular attention was paid to soap and detergent p roducts and related ingredients. Eighty-five references are included i n the review; the in vitro assays are categorized, and their predictiv e values for assessing acute ocular irritation are evaluated and compa red with the Draize rabbit eye irritation assay and with each other. T he present review shows that the increased activity of scientists from academia, industry, and regulatory agencies has resulted in substanti al progress in developing alternative in vitro procedures and that a n umber of large, interlaboratory evaluations and international workshop s have assisted in the selection process. However, none of these metho dologies has obtained acceptance for regulatory classification purpose s. Conclusions drawn from this review include that (a) no single in vi tro assay is considered capable of replacing the Draize eye irritation test; (b) the chorioallantoic membrane vascular assay (CAMVA) or the hen egg test-chorioallantoic membrane test (HET-CAM), the chicken or b ovine enucleated eye test, the neutral red and plasminogen activation assays for cytotoxicity, and the silicon microphysiometer appear to ha ve the greatest potential as screening tools for eye irritation; and ( c) choosing a specific assay or series of assays will depend on the ty pe of agent tested and the impact of false-negative or false-positive results. New assays will continue to be developed and should be includ ed in future evaluations, when sufficient data are available.