BACKGROUND

ALLTOX provides technical consulting on safety issues, according to current regulatory directives for biomedical and cosmetic products. The proper strategic approach is discussed with the customer and state-of-the-art testing is provided on the prediction of allergic sensitisation. This includes test in vitro with dendritic cells and with human monocytoid cells (e.g., THP-1). The methods used by ALLTOX for in vitro testing have bees recently published in peer-reviewed international Journals (see references).

ALLTOX also provides the only test, which is validated for the prediction of sensitization, i.e., the Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA OFFICIAL JOURNAL).

This test in an in vivo assay, which requires a mouse model. However, it involves much lower animal usage and sufferings, as compared to the traditional guinea pig based assays (GMPT e il Buheler test).

The LLNA is recommended by the ReACH Directive, according to the the guidelines of the “white book on chemical policy”. ALLTOX performs this test in a Standard Pathogen Free (SPF) animal facility, which fulfil severe microbiological standards.

ALLTOX is also committed to develop new testing to this aim and to activate projects on the basic mechanisms of the allergic reaction. Alltox operates according to the guidelines of European Agencies on the development of alternative in vitro testing for allergotoxicity (ECVAM, European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods).

ALLTOX is willing to participate to ongoing validation projects of new tests, coordinated by ECVAM, which is a partner for ongoing research projects on in vitro sensitisation.