Basic Mutagenicity Tests

This volume provides a brief but important summary of the essential tests that need to be performed on all new compounds—whether they are new drugs, pesticides or food additives—before they can be registered for use in the United Kingdom. These basic tests for mutagenicity, originally drawn up by the United Kingdom Environmental Mutagen Society in 1983 have now been fully revised under the auspices of expert working groups from academia and industry and in collaboration with the UK Department of Health. This volume therefore provides the latest official guidelines and recommendations for all scientists involved in the testing and registration of new compounds not only in the UK, but in wider international context. The four main test procedures for measuring mutagenicity described in this volume are bacterial mutation assays, metaphase chromosome aberration assays in vitro, gene mutation assays in cultured mammalian cells, and in vivo cytogenetics assays. Each of these tests is fully explained and described in practical and procedural detail, with additional information on the presentation and data processing of results.