Genotoxicity Tests
SOS-ChromoTest™ Kit
The SOS ChromoTestTM kit is based on a novel genetically engineered E.coli, which measures the primary response of a cell to genetic damage. In just a few hours, the kit provides a clear, completely objective measurement of the genotoxicity of a sample by a simple visual qualitative evaluation of the degree of DNA damage the cell experiences by observing the colour obtained.
UMU-ChromoTest™ Kit
EBPI has developed the umu-c test into the UMU-CHROMOTEST, a simple procedure based upon the International Organization for Standardization protocol ISO 13829 (Water Quality-Determination of the genotoxicity of water and waste water using the umu-test) which can be performed easily in a non-Specialized laboratory.
Sedi-Tox™ Direct Sediment Genotoxicity Test
7021 umuC Direct Contact Sediment Genotoxicity Test
The UMU-ChromoTest™ (umuC assay) employs Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535 [pSK 1002] bacteria in which the SOS DNA repair response umuC gene has been linked to the β gal gene responsible for producing the β-galactosidase enzyme. The degree of DNA damage repair using the SOS gene pathway is directly linked to the production of β-galactosidase, which is measured by the enzyme’s reaction with a yellow chromogen. Strain TA 1535 [pSK 1002] contains both the rfa mutation, which produces a defective, more permeable cell membrane, and the uvrB mutation, which eliminates the accurate excision DNA repair mechanism, resulting in more repair by error-prone mechanisms. The results from this assay agree very closely with traditional Ames mutagenicity tests, with the added advantage of only using a single bacterial strain.
The assay is based on the Organization of Standardization Protocol ISO 13829.
7031 SOS Direct Contact Sediment Genotoxicity Test
The SOS line of assays are designed for rapid detection of genotoxicity or DNA damage and utilizes the synthesis of the B-galactosidase enzyme whose gene (LacZ) is connected to an SOS promoter. Once a lesion has been detected, the SOS promoter is induced to start the transcription of the SOS genes and the LacZ gene is transcribed as well. This gene produces an enzyme which is assayed using a simple colour change. The degree of colorimetric expression is quantified and given as the SOS-inducing potency (SOSIP). Although the SOS tests also correlate well with the Ames assays, they have been shown to be slightly less sensitive, although they also report less false-positive results.