Experimental skin sensitization in guinea pigs verified by the skin test and the lymphocyte migration inhibition test.

The sensitization properties of a number of chemicals were estimated on experimental models, using white female guinea pigs. Sensitization as effected in four ways a) intradermal application jointly with Freund's complete adjuvants (FCA), b) repeated epicutaneous applications together with FCA intradermally, c) a single intradermal application of the tested substance to the ear lobe, d) a single injection of the substance together with FCA into the paws. The results were evaluated with the skin test (ST) and in vitro with the macrophage migration inhibition test (MIT). The suitability of these methodical procedures was verified and agreement in the positivity of the ST and MIT confirmed. The sensitization effect of the tested substance does not depend on the intensity of skin reaction but on the frequency of positive skin test results in the monitored sample.