The ICCVAM
Authorization Act of 2000 directed ICCVAM to prepare a progress report on its first
anniversary and biennially thereafter. The most recent report is now available, and covers the
period from January 2010 to December 2011.
View ICCVAM 2010-2011 Biennial Report (NIH Publication Number 12-7873)
(Please note: Document may take a few moments to download, depending on connection
speed)
View the ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000
During the past two years, NICEATM, ICCVAM, and ICCVAM member agencies contributed to the
national and international endorsement and adoption of 14 new and updated alternative safety testing
methods. Since ICCVAM was established, NICEATM, ICCVAM, and the ICCVAM member agencies have
contributed to the regulatory acceptance of over 50 alternative methods to protect the health of
people, animals, and the environment while reducing, refining, and replacing animal use.
Selected highlights from the report include:
- On behalf of NICEATM and ICCVAM, NIEHS signed an agreement to add the Republic of Korea
to the
International Cooperation on Alternative Test Methods (ICATM). ICATM was established
in 2009 by the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Canada to expedite the worldwide
validation and regulatory acceptance of improved alternative test methods.
- The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) adopted an international
guidance document prepared by NICEATM and ICCVAM that describes
two in vitro test methods to
reduce animal use to identify potentially poisonous substances. NICEATM led the international
validation studies for the two in vitro test methods, which can reduce animal use by up to 50% for each test.
- Federal agencies and the OECD adopted several new versions and applications of the
murine local lymph node assay (LLNA), an alternative method recommended by ICCVAM to assess whether
substances may cause allergic contact dermatitis. The recommendations reduce animal use for each
test by 20-40% and support expanded use of the LLNA for nearly all testing situations. Two new
“green” versions of the LLNA were adopted that do not require radioactive reagents and will allow
laboratories worldwide to take advantage of animal welfare benefits provided by the LLNA.
- Federal agencies adopted ICCVAM-recommended alternative test methods and procedures that will
further reduce, refine, and replace animal use for eye safety testing. These include the routine
use of medications to avoid pain and distress when it is necessary to use animals for required
safety testing, and the first in vitro test method that can be used in a “bottom-up” approach to
identify substances that are not considered eye hazards.
- NICEATM, ICCVAM, and their ICATM partners convened the first international workshop on
alternative methods for human and veterinary vaccine potency and safety testing. The workshop
recommended priority research needed to develop improved and more efficient test methods that
can also reduce, refine, and replace animal use. A focused
workshop on human and veterinary
rabies vaccine test methods was held in 2011, and additional focused workshops are planned
for 2012 and 2013.
- ICCVAM completed an international evaluation of an
in vitro test method proposed
as a screening test to identify substances with potential endocrine activity. The
test method uses engineered human cells to identify substances that induce or inhibit
activation of the human estrogen receptor. Use of this test method may reduce the
number of animals necessary for endocrine disruptor screening.
- NICEATM and ICCVAM convened two workshops on Best Practices for Regulatory Safety
Testing to promote the use of improved and more efficient test methods that can also
reduce, refine, and replace animal use. Participants learned how to select and use
approved alternative methods to assess the safety or potential hazards of chemicals and products.
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