Toxicology bioassay information sheet, undated

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ETL The Tetramitus Assay AboyttheJTest Testing Costs Licensing Info Photos Review Patent studie^s^^^

Home The Tetramitus kss/vf Company The field of toxicology frequently uses short-term tests, known as News bioassays, to determine the presence and relative concentrations of The mrattfitus toxicants in various biological samples. One of the most well know and Assay frequently used bioassays is the Ames Test. Others include the various About The Tost Microtox™ tests. Mu tatox™, AMAX II™, as well as the numerous Testing Costs Licensing Info invertebrate, fish and amphibian tests for aquatic toxicity. Despite their Photos widespread use, many bioassays serve as imperfect data retrieval Review Patent Data I Current Studies systems for the detection of toxic agents for several reasons; the tests are costly, time-consuming, poorly suited for field applications, yield imprecise Feedback results, and are scientifically complex. Moreover, most bioassays have had limited utility in ascertaining the toxicity of complex particulate Links samples because suspected toxicants must be extracted from contaminated sediments before testing can begin.

ETL’s Tetramitus Assay measures the effects of toxic agents on the flagellate phenotype of Tetramitus rostratus, a protozoan organism. When a sample concentrate or particle suspension containing toxic agents is added to a Tetramitus culture, cell division is inhibited in direct proportion to the concentration of individual or multiple toxic agents. The Tetramitus Assay measures the dose-response relationship, thus indicating the presence and degree of toxicity in that sample. Because Tetramitus flagellates have a gullet and are particle feeders, the assay allows for the measurement of whole particle toxicity without prior extraction or solvent substitution procedures. This feature is a significant advancement in the field of toxicity testing and is but one of many that distinguishes the Tetramitus Assay from other bioassays.

ETL has focused its research on applying the Tetramitus Assay to water testing, where the assay has significant environmental implications. Standard monopollutant water testing measures only the levels of individual toxicants and compares this amount with levels deemed acceptable by various regulatory agencies. The Tetramitus Assay is particularly important because it measures the total toxicity of a sample, thereby reflecting the synergistic or antagonistic effects of multiple toxicants. The test provides a comprehensive screening for cytotoxicity, thereby minimizing the need for expensive tests for specific toxicants. The assay’s whole particle analysis capability is a noteworthy breakthrough in the water testing field because particles contained in sediment contain

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