Measurement of allergenic potency using the local lymph node assay

Chemicals that can act as contact allergens have been identified successful ly using guinea-pig models. However, contact allergy is still common, proba bly because of, at least in part. failures of risk assessment. A new method , the local lymph node assay, replaces the guinea-pig as a tool for hazard identification and offers the real prospect of accurate prediction of aller gen potency, the missing link in skin sensitization risk assessment.