Up-and-down procedure (or method) for toxicology tests in

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is an alternative to the test, in which animals are used for acute toxicity testing. It requires fewer animals to achieve similar accuracy as the LD₅₀ test because animals are dosed one at a time. If the first animal survives, the dose for the next animal is increased; if it dies, the dose is decreased. It is usual to observe each animal for 1 or 2 days before dosing the next animal, however, surviving animals should be monitored for 7 days in case of delayed death. The up-and-down method is not recommended where deaths beyond 2 days are the norm. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has begun to approve non-animal alternatives.

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