| Popis: |
New requirements by several regulatory agencies for testing the psychotoxic potential of new drugs, chemicals, and environmental contaminants raise unique problems. In order to assess intra- and interlaboratory reliability of behavioral tests a model animal maze learning procedure was designed and run in 3 cooperating laboratories. Uniform procedures were written and identical mazes were constructed. Normal control animals of identical age and sex, but of different strains, were used by the participants. A positive control group of neurologically impaired rats was run by one laboratory. Significant differences in test results among the laboratories were found. Data obtained from the positive control animals (X− errors = 28.3) indicated a learning impairment statistically significant compared to the negative control data (X− errors = 12.7) from any of the participating laboratories. Based on the results of this study, a reasonable standard of interlaboratory reliability in behavioral testing appears an attainable goal. |
