https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/40393

Up-and-Down Procedure for Acute Oral Systemic Toxicity Testing

The oral up-and-down procedure (UDP) is an alternative to the traditional LD50 acute oral toxicity test that reduces animal use.

A peer review panel convened during 2000 and 2001 evaluated the validation status of a revised UDP for acute oral toxicity. Following the peer review panel's comments, ICCVAM recommended that the revised UDP should be used instead of the conventional LD50 test to determine the acute oral toxicity hazard of chemicals.

ICCVAM concluded that the revised UDP would reduce and refine animal use. The results of the peer review were used as the basis for two documents adopted in 2001 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):

ICCVAM Test Method Recommendations

ICCVAM's recommendations on the revised UDP were transmitted to federal agencies in March 2003. The transmittal letter and agency responses are posted below. The test method recommendations are included as Appendix A of the Peer Review Evaluation Report.

The Revised Up-and-Down Procedure: A Test Method for Determining the Acute Oral Toxicity of Chemicals
(NIH Publication No. 02-4501 - November 2001)

Documents Related to the UDP Evaluation
Transmittal of ICCVAM Recommendations and Agency Responses

Transmittal Letter from Dr. Kenneth Olden to the Agency Heads (March 2003)

Agency Responses