Dressler, W. E., T. J. Stephens, and E. T. Spence. Selection of an In Vitro Test Battery for Comparing the Relative Dermal Irritancy Potential and Biological Activity of Potential and Biological Activity of Formulated Cosmetic Products. The Toxicologist. February 1992. 12(1):108. (Abstract #345).

A series of prototype oxidative (permanent) haircolor bases (with and without dyes); peroxide alone and mixture of the two were evaluated in a battery of in vitro alternative tests. The battery included Microtox, Tetrahymena thermophila, chorioallantoic membrane vascular assay (CAMVA), Eyetex, as well as dermal and full thickness human skin equivalents (Organogenesis, Marrow-Tech) to which products were applied topically or added to the incubation media. Responses were compared among tests and with in vivo rank order irritancy potential determined by exaggerated skin patch tests in human volunteers. Certain human skin models showed good agreement with in vivo results, while other in vitro assays showed good agreement with each other. The results provide a basis to select an appropriate in vitro test battery to provide complementary information on the relative dermal irritancy potential and biological activity of such materials.