LabCyte EPI-MODEL24 skin irritation test

Method Description

This method is based on the in vitro test system of reconstructed human epidermis (RhE), which closely mimics the biochemical and physiological properties of the upper parts of the human skin, i.e. the epidermis. The test chemical is applied topically to a three-dimensional RhE model, comprised of non-transformed human-derived epidermal keratinocytes, which have been cultured to form a multilayered, highly differentiated model of the human epidermis. Cell viability in RhE models is measured by enzymatic conversion of the vital dye MTT [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Thiazolyl blue; CAS number 298-93-1], into a blue formazan salt that is quantitatively measured after extraction from tissues (31). Irritant chemicals are identified by their ability to decrease cell viability below defined threshold levels.