Chemical Screening Test Will Speed Up Toxicity Testing

A new high-throughput technique can determine if a chemical has the potential to activate key genes in seconds rather than the typical 24 hours or more. 

Study in a Sentence: Researchers modified target proteins to emit light when activated by certain chemicals. These proteins, which affect reproductive development, can then be used in a new test to rapidly screen for chemicals that may be toxic to the reproductive process. 

Healthy for Humans: While most toxicology tests require more than 24 hours to obtain results, this rapid high-throughput technique can be adapted to identify potentially toxic chemicals to various human biological processes in seconds. 

Redefining Research: This test can be used to quickly prioritize chemicals for further in-depth toxicology testing and help reduce testing in animals.