An automated approach to bacterial mutagenicity testing - the spiral Salmon
ella assay - was developed to simplify testing and to reduce the labor and
materials required to generate dose-responsive mutagenicity information. Th
is document provides the reader with an overview of the spiral assay and a
discussion of its application for examining the mutagenic potential of pure
compounds, complex environmental mixtures, and interactive effects. Guidel
ines for performing a routine spiral assay are presented, and alternative t
est methods intended to overcome a variety of technical difficulties (such
as restricted sample availability, sample viscosity or volatility, etc.) ar
e recommended. Methods for the computerized analysis of data and the interp
retation of results are discussed. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.