Skin sensitization test in guinea pigs is a preferred method for the detection of the potential of a substance to cause allergic contact dermatitis. The guinea pigs are sensitized to the test substance by intradermal injection. After a period of potential immune response development (14 days), the animals are administered a permissive dose of the test substance. The degree of skin reaction in experimental animals is compared with the reaction in animals of the control group.
Service details: In a typical design, three groups of female guinea pigs are treated with a pre-selected dose of a test article in a 1:1 mixture (v/v) FCA/water. The test compounds are applied by intradermal injection twice with a 14-day interval. Each compound-treated and positive-control group contains 20 animals, the vehicle dosing group contains 10 animals. Animals are observed for the skin reaction and recorded according to the grades at 30 min, 2, 4, and 6 hours after the last administration and thereafter daily for a period of 3 consecutive days in accordance with the OECD 406 recommendations. Individual bodу weights of animals are determined on the day of the compound administration and weekly thereafter.