OECD 473: Chromosome aberration test (in vitro mammalian)

The in vitro chromosome aberration test is used to identify substances that cause structural chromosome aberrations in cultured mammalian somatic cells. The test can be performed in a variety of cell lines, such as Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO), Chinese Hamster Lung V79, Chinese Hamster Lung (CHL)/IU, TK6) or primary cell cultures, including human or other mammalian peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cell cultures are exposed to the test chemical (at least three concentrations) both with and without metabolic activation during about 1.5 normal cell cycle lengths. At fixed intervals after exposure to the test chemical, the cells are treated with a metaphase-arresting substance, and after staining are analysed for the presence of chromosome aberrations by microscopy. The test chemical is considered able to induce chromosomal aberrations in cultured mammalian cells if a statistically significant, dose-dependent increase in aberrant cells if shown that exceeds historical negative control data limits.