National Toxicology Program

The ICCVAM Authorization Act of 2000 directed ICCVAM to prepare a progress report on its first anniversary and biennially thereafter. The most recent report is now available, and covers the period from January 2006 to December 2007.

View ICCVAM 2006-2007 Biennial Report (NIH Publication Number 08-6529) [PDF]
View Federal Register notice announcing publication of the Biennial Report (Vol. 73, No. 206, p. 63150, Oct. 23, 2008) [PDF]

The report describes ICCVAM activities, test method recommendations, and other progress made during the 2006-07 reporting period. Selected highlights include:

• ICCVAM recommended the first non-animal ocular safety testing methods to Federal agencies that can identify substances causing severe eye damage, such as blindness, without the use of animals.
• ICCVAM determined that two non-animal cell-based assays can reduce animal use for testing required to determine if chemicals and products can cause acute poisoning, the most common product safety test performed.
• ICCVAM completed evaluation of five non-animal test methods for assessing the fever-inducing, or pyrogenicity, potential of injectable pharmaceuticals and other products.
• NICEATM initiated an international validation study of a cell-based test method to determine if it can identify substances that may disrupt normal hormonal function.
• NICEATM and ICCVAM strengthened collaborations with European and Japanese counterparts in the areas of validation studies and review activities.

ICCVAM has contributed to the approval or endorsement of 18 alternative safety testing methods by Federal regulatory agencies since its establishment in 1997. These test methods have significantly reduced animal use and improved animal welfare. ICCVAM has also identified critical research, development, and validation efforts needed to further advance numerous other alternative methods.

The 2006-2007 Biennial Report describes how NICEATM and ICCVAM continue to promote the development, validation and regulatory acceptance of new test methods that will reduce, refine, and replace the use of animals in testing while maintaining and promoting scientific quality and the protection of people, animals, and the environment.

Past ICCVAM Reports