ETAP-Lab provides in vivo Toxicology services to the agrochemical and food companies in order to prove the safety of natural substances, ingredients, food supplements and novel foods, and to determine the highest dose to use without observable harmful effects. The studies meet the highest standards (our Toxicology Department is certified ISO 9001) and our facilities are custom built for efficiency and to ensure good ethological practices, the welfare of animals and the ethics of animal experimentation.
Toxicity studies are carried out in compliance with the latest standards of the OECD and the US EPA.
Short-term toxicity studies
The aim of acute toxicity studies performed according to OECD 423 (US EPA 870.1100) (also possible to follow OECD 420 or OECD 425) is to assess the effects of exposure to a high dose of a substance in young and healthy animals, usually in females. These studies, performed in mice and/or rats, can specify the dose(s) of the substance that will be used for sub-chronic and/or chronic toxicity studies.
Sub-chronic and chronic toxicity studies
The aim of sub-chronic and chronic toxicity studies is to assess the effects of exposure to repeated administrations of the substance tested at one or three doses in animals of both sexes in order to determine the maximum dose of this substance that does not produce any observable harmful effect (NOAEL).
The following studies can be performed in mice and/or rats.
- 28-day oral toxicity (OECD 407 – US EPA 870.3050)
- 90-day oral toxicity (OECD 408 – US EPA 870.3100)
- “Extended” 90-day oral toxicity (OECD 408 + OECD 407) (specific for novel foods)
- 12-month oral toxicity (OECD 452 – US EPA 870.4100)
- Carcinogenicity study (OECD 451 – US EPA 870.4200)