Expertise in “difficult-to-test” samples.

About “difficult-to-test” samples

In the context of skin sensitization testing, certain groups of chemicals are considered challenging to test using conventional cell-based methods. Examples of commonly recognised challenging samples include:

  • Pre- and pro- haptens

    Pre- and pro-haptens need to be activated to become skin sensitizers. The metabolic activation process, however, is not always supported by in vitro tests.

  • Low water-soluble substances

    Hydrophobic test items are often difficult to test in an aqueous test system due to solubility issues.

  • Complex mixtures

    Botanical extracts, essential oils or UVCBs are typical examples of complex mixtures. Many of them have solubility issues in aqueous test systems.

Contact us to discuss your specific testing needs

If your chemical has challenging properties, our experts are here to help, whether for regulatory testing or product development.

As one of the few in vitro CROs with extensive hands-on experience in testing challenging substances, we routinely work with:

  • Complex mixtures
  • Indirectly acting haptens
  • Hydrophobic/lipophilic compounds
  • Metal and metal salts
  • Solid materials
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Why GARD® works

GARD®skin has demonstrated broad applicability to a wide range of “difficult-to-test” substances that fall outside the applicability domains of the conventional in vitro assays in the OECD Test Guidelines.

1. Supporting metabolic activation

GARDskin utilizes a dendritic-like cell line, expressing several metabolizing enzymes required for activation of pre/-pro haptens (e.g. ALDH, CYP, NAT-1).

2. A broad selection of solvents

The solubility for hydrophobic substances is further increased using an extended panel of non-polar solvents compatible with the test system.

3. Highly sensitive

GARDskin is highly sensitive, able to detect a minimum amount of substances dissolved in the cell medium.