Ten independent LLNA:BrdU-ELISAs with the preferred positive controls (PCs), i.e., 25% hexyl cinnamic aldehyde (HCA) and 25% eugenol, were conducted within a period of less than one year. In addition, different concentrations of 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB, an extreme sensitizer) (0.01, 0.1 and 0.3%), HCA (10, 25 and 50%) and eugenol (10, 25 and 50%), were tested to determine the EC1.6 values. Special Pathogen Free female CBA/J mice of 8–10 weeks old were randomly allocated to the groups, each group having 4 mice. 25 μl of AOO (vehicle, acetone: olive oil = 4:1, v/v) or HCA, eugenol, DNCB at the needed concentration was applied to the dorsum of each ear of the mice, daily for 3 consecutive days. A single intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml of BrdU solution (10 mg/ml) was given on day 5. On day 6, a pair of auricular lymph nodes from each mouse was excised, and BrdU ELISA analysis was conducted.
The result for each group is expressed as the mean Stimulation Index (SI). The mean of the 10 mean SIs for 25% HCA (2.58 ± 0.95) and 25% eugenol (3.51 ± 1.25) was not significantly different to that from the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods (ICCVAM) (i.e., the data on the formal validation study for the LLNA:BrdU-ELISA by the ICCVAM) (3.03 ± 2.00 for 25% HCA, 6.13 ± 6.06 for 25% eugenol) (P > 0.05), with even smaller Coefficient of Variations (CV) (36.8% for 25% HCA, 35.6% for 25% eugenol) than that from the ICCVAM (66.0% for 25% HCA, 98.8% for 25% eugenol). In addition, the EC1.6 values for HCA, eugenol and DNCB (15.2, 12.5 and 0.25%, respectively) were consistent with that from the ICCVAM (12.92, 8.85 and 0.34%, respectively).
The results indicate that the reliability for our laboratory to conduct the LLNA:BrdU-ELISA is successfully determined.