Environmental Toxicology and Biological Systems

Methods of Toxicity Testing

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Toxicity testing of new compounds is essential for drug development process. The preclinical toxicity testing on various biological systems reveals the species-, organ- and dose- specific toxic effects of an investigational product. There are distinct types of toxicological analyses that are conducted for different purposes. They include forensic toxicological analysis, workplace drug testing, clinical analysis or hospital drug testing. A toxicity test, by extension, is designed to generate data concerning the adverse effects of a substance on human or animal health, or the environment. Most of the toxicity tests examine specific types of adverse effects, known as endpoints, such as eye irritation or cancer. Other tests are more general in nature, ranging from acute (single-exposure) studies to repeat dose (multiple-exposure) studies, in which animals are administered daily doses of a test substances.