Significance and Use

This practice pertains to all forms of toxicological testing (acute, subchronic, or chronic) performed by any route of administration (inhalation, oral, dermal, ocular, or other).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Good Laboratory Practices for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, as listed in 40 CFR, requires that a testing facility maintain specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) including an SOP covering clinical observations in test animals.

This practice serves as a basis for consistency in clinical observations. Actual procedures and forms to be used in recording observations must be described in individual study protocols.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice describes the terms used in observing and recording cutaneous, gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, neuromuscular, ocular, and general clinical signs of animals undergoing toxicological testing. This practice also assists in properly observing and assessing laboratory animals for signs of disease or adverse effects of compound administration.

1.2 This practice includes codes and descriptions for a wide variety of clinical signs, anatomical locations, and other descriptive qualifiers, and a technique for scoring the extent or severity of clinical signs.

1.3 This practice assumes that the reader is knowledgeable in animal toxicology and related pertinent areas and is trained in making clinical observations.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

Federal Standards

Keywords

adverse reactions; animals; clinical codes; clinical signs; toxicity; Adverse reactions; Animal habitats; Clinical codes/signs; Cutaneous signs; Gastrointestinal analysis; General clinical codes/signs; Laboratory animals; Neuromuscular signs; Ocular signs; Reproductive signs; Respiratory signs; Toxicity/toxicology;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 11.220 (Veterinary medicine)

DOI: 10.1520/E2045-99R09

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ASTM E2045