THE CHICKEN ENUCLEATED EYE TEST (CEET) - A PRACTICAL (PRE)SCREEN FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF EYE IRRITATION CORROSION POTENTIAL OF TEST MATERIALS/

The enucleated eye test with chicken eyes (CEET) obtained from an abat toir proved to be a valuable and practical alternative for the 'tradit ional' enucleated eye test with eyes of laboratory rabbits. Since 1992 , the CEET has been incorporated in standard contract toxicity testing at the Toxicology Division of the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Ins titute as a (pre)screen for the Draize eye test with rabbits. The resu lts of the first 44 compounds tested showed excellent correlation with the in vivo results. The CEET identified non-irritating or severely i rritating compounds, and predicted (slightly to moderately) irritating compounds. Statistical analysis of the CEET and the rabbit in vivo sc ores showed high linear correlations between the critical values of bo th tests and confirmed the relevance of this assay with respect to ocu lar effects. In general, tiered in vitro/in vivo testing was considere d a meaningful approach for further validation of alternative methods and for reducing the use of suffering of laboratory animals to a minim um. Tiered testing of compounds in cases of eye irritation hazard asse ssment should be incorporated in the legislation of the European Commu nity.