[Study on the use of haemoglobin denaturation test as an alternative to Draize eye irritation test].

OBJECTIVE: To use haemoglobin denaturation test (HD test) as an alternative to Draize eye irritation test (Draize test). METHODS: Fourteen cosmetic ingredients were tested by HD test. The results were compared with two kinds of scores in Draize test, i.e. Maximum average Draize total score (MAS) and Score of 24 h after application (S24). RESULTS: The correlation coefficient between RDC50 and MAS and that between RDC50 and S24 were 0.926 and 0.921 respectively, while that between 1%lambdamax and MAS, and between 1%lambdamax and S24 were 0.881 and 0.791 respectively. The results showed that RDC50 had a higher correlation with Draize test than 1%lambdamax did, but in the use of RDC50 some information of data would be lost. On the other hand, 1%lambdamax, which had a greater correlation with corneal score in the three component scores of the Draize test, could be used for assessing water-insoluble chemicals. CONCLUSION: The results showed that HD test could be used as an effective alternative to Draize eye irritation test.