In a new, published report, the representatives spell out how potential test methods should be evaluated to show how comparable they are to current methods, as well as what their limitations may be, if any, and what advantages in time and accuracy they provide. New methods proposed for testing substances for carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and other harmful effects include those that would provide results faster and cheaper, with fewer animals and with improved accuracy. Such tests may involve genetically modified mice, tissue, bacteria and fish, as well as computer simulations and other analyses. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program headquartered within it established the coordinating committee in 1994 with the participation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Labor and Transportation, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services and such constituent parts as the Food and Drug Administration, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and parts of the National Institutes of Health.
Plans call for it to facilitate the review and adoption of new methods.
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