Opinion ID: 1890564
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: In-Vitro Testing

Text: DuPont and Pine Island challenge whether Dr. Howard's in-vitro testing of sample tissues from human lungs and rats is generally accepted in the scientific community for the purpose of determining the dose at which benomyl becomes a teratogen. DuPont and Pine Island assert that this is the only testing the Castillos' experts relied upon to make the determination that benomyl is a human teratogen at 20 ppb, and that as a sole means of determining toxicity, it is scientifically rejected. The Castillos assert that in-vitro testing is wholly appropriate and scientifically accepted, and in fact necessary. Most importantly, the Castillos argue, their experts did not rely solely on in-vitro testing, but as one source of data in conjunction with various other sources of reliable scientific data to calculate their conclusion that benomyl is a human teratogen at 20 ppb. Throughout his testimony at the Frye hearing, Dr. Van Velzen agreed with DuPont and Pine Island's position that invitro testing alone cannot establish a low effect level for benomyl, or any other toxic substance, in human beings. Dr. Van Velzen repeatedly stated that he did not solely rely upon the in-vitro testing in coming to the conclusion that the low effect level in humans is 20 ppb. He repeatedly asserted that he used the in-vitro testing as one source of data, in conjunction with other reliable data, to reach the conclusion. He testified that the consideration of all the data together is a commonly accepted scientific practice. DuPont, Pine Island, and amici continually refer to Dr. Van Velzen's in-vitro testing as a pioneering effort and repeatedly argue that in-vitro, in and of itself, is not scientifically accepted as a method of determining the dose at which benomyl becomes toxic in humans. Dr. Van Velzen concedes that the use of in vitro testing in the particular manner in which he used it is new. DuPont and Pine Island argue that it is therefore not scientifically accepted. DuPont and Pine Island's position that Dr. Van Velzen's technique fails the Frye standard solely because it is a new technique is contrary to Frye. The whole purpose of Frye is to weed out junk science from valid science and is only used when new scientific methodology is being presented. Clearly new scientific methodology can be admissible when it is shown that it is not junk science. If we accepted DuPont and Pine Island's position, every new scientific method would be denied. This Court, as most other courts, will accept new scientific methods of establishing evidentiary facts only after a proper predicate has first established the reliability of the new scientific method. Ramirez v. State, 542 So.2d 352, 355 (Fla.1989); see also Brim v. State, 779 So.2d 427 (Fla. 2d DCA 2000) (stating the Frye test is utilized in Florida to guarantee the reliability of new or novel scientific evidence). Indeed, amici even list in-vitro studies as one of the scientific methods necessary, among others, to determine whether a substance is a human teratogen, and at what level it becomes so. It is clear that in-vitro studies are commonly accepted scientific studies. In this case, the data from the invitro studies was used in conjunction with certain other reliable data to reach a conclusion. DuPont and Pine Island disagree with the conclusion, and the disagreement between the parties was properly put before the jury to resolve.