Developments in the OECD Genetic Toxicology Test Guidelines

Abstract

In the past 3 decades, Test Guidelines (TGs) for testing chemicals have been developed and adopted by OECD. The aims were to set the reference methods to be used for research and development of chemicals internationally. Up to present, 19 TGs had been successfully adopted for genetic toxicity tests. TGs development initially began with several different methods, and later deletion of inappropriate ones, whereas useful methods are successively updated. There are currently 12 TGs in used. The interval of updated time, previously long about 10 years, had recently become shortened to 2-4 years. These may be the results of advancing technology and speed of information. Furthermore, newer TGs often suggested integration of genetic toxicity test with other toxicity test to reduce number of animals used in the experiments. To practice research works with the OECD's TGs offered several advantages including easiness to understand and compare results with other researchers. Toxicological researchers, therefore, should keep up to date and actively follow these developments. In such a way they can accurately design the appropriate experiments, with economic used of resources and sustainable outcome.