Validation of the Postimplantation Rat Whole-embryo Culture Test in the International ECVAM Validation Study on Three <i>In Vitro</i> Embryotoxicity Tests

Abstract

A detailed report is presented on the performance of the postimplantation rat whole-embryo culture (WEC) test in a European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM)-sponsored formal validation study on three in vitro tests for embryotoxicity. Twenty coded test chemicals, classified as non-embryotoxic, weakly embryotoxic or strongly embryotoxic on the basis of their in vivo effects in animals and/or humans, were tested in four laboratories. The outcome showed that the WEC test can be considered to be a scientifically validated test, which is ready for consideration for use in assessing the embryotoxic potentials of chemicals for regulatory purposes.