Identification of Skin Sensitizers

Substances with the potential to cause allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) are skin sensitizers; the process by which they cause ACD is skin sensitization. Non-animal approaches to identify potential skin sensitizers are becoming widely accepted. NICEATM, ICCVAM, and ICCVAM agencies have been at the forefront of advancing these non-animal approaches.

Glass vials containing different colored liquids

GARD Models for Identifying Sensitizers

The GARD®skin assay uses a genomic profile to identify potential skin sensitizers. A NICEATM report evaluates the assay. Read more

Human Skin Sensitization Data

NICEATM and collaborators compiled human data as a resource to evaluate new testing approaches for skin sensitizers. Read More

Isothiazolinones Risk Assessment

NICEATM and partners developed a non-animal approach to evaluate ACD risk for isothiazolinones, which are used as antimicrobials. Read More

Pipet tips drawing green liquid from a 96-well plate

Electrophilic Allergen Screening Assay (EASA)

The EASA is a chemical assay that measures a chemical’s tendency to bind to proteins, the first step in skin sensitization. Read More

Principal Component Analysis plot with pipet tips

Defined Approaches to Identify Potential Skin Sensitizers

A defined approach uses input data and a data interpretation procedure to identify potential skin sensitizers. NICEATM and ICCVAM have developed and evaluated defined approaches. Read More

Micrograph of lymph node cells from an LLNA experiment

ICCVAM Evaluations of the Murine Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA)

The LLNA uses fewer animals and causes less pain than tests that use guinea pigs for identifying skin sensitizers. ICCVAM evaluated the LLNA for a number of applications. Read More