Draize test

Draize Test

The Draize Test is a toxicity assessment method used primarily in the cosmetics industry to evaluate irritation and corrosion caused by chemicals on the eye or skin of animals, typically rabbits. The test was named after its developer, John Henry Draize, a pharmacologist from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

History

The Draize Test was first introduced in the 1940s by John Henry Draize, a scientist at the FDA. It was initially developed to test the safety of cosmetics and other consumer products. Over the years, the test has been widely used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and chemical manufacturing.

Procedure

In a typical Draize Test, a small amount of the test substance is applied to the eye or skin of a restrained rabbit. The animal's reaction is then observed over a period of time, usually 24 to 72 hours, and the degree of irritation or corrosion is scored based on visible tissue damage.

Criticism and Alternatives

The Draize Test has been heavily criticized by animal rights and animal welfare groups due to the pain and distress it can cause to the test animals. In response to these criticisms, several alternatives to the Draize Test have been developed. These include in vitro methods such as the BCOP (Bovine Corneal Opacity and Permeability) test and the EpiSkin test, which use animal tissues or artificial skin instead of live animals.

See Also

• Animal testing
• In vitro toxicology
• Alternatives to animal testing

References

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