The purpose built laboratories provide computer controlled environments with constant supplies of water or culture media, controlled to the required quality, for the species under test and the particular test guideline being followed.

Quarantine facilities (including those for imported species) and holding tanks, with stocks of the most commonly used species acclimated to test conditions, together with a breeding facility for certain species, ensure that we are able to provide a rapid response to our sponsor's requests.

Several freshwater species are routinely tested. The most commonly used are Scenedesmus subspicatus and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Other species tested include Navicula Pelliculosa. Skeletonema costatum is the marine species preferred by most regulatory bodies.

Modern electronic particle counters and size distribution analysers are used to monitor the growth of algae in the studies. The department has the capability to conduct modified studies on coloured substances.

Testing with higher species of aquatic plants e.g. Lemna are also routinely undertaken.

Acute and reproduction studies are routinely conducted with Daphnia magna. The department has specific facilities for the conduct of flow-through acute studies for US testing requirements. Acute tests with other species are also available including the marine copepod Acartia tonsa, the freshwater sediment dwelling species Chironomus riparius or Lumbirculus variegatus and the amphipod Gammarus pulex.

Tests using oyster embryo laval development have recently been validated and added to the suite of tests offered.

Recent new facilities have been developed for the testing of mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia), a marine invertebrate.

Acute tests are conducted under static, semi-static or flow-through conditions. The choice of test regime is dependent upon the chemical itself and our scientists have extensive experience of testing "Difficult Substances" and the methodology involved, such as the use of Water Accommodated Fractions and Column Generators.

Early Life Stage tests with Fathead minnow and Fish Growth tests using rainbow trout, are examples of the Chronic tests with fish that are routinely undertaken.

The species used include:

• Rainbow trout
• Common carp
• Golden orfe
• Bluegill sunfish
• Fathead minnow
• Japanese killifish
• Zebra fish
  Studies can also be conducted using marine species such as Turbot and Sheepshead minnow.

Bioaccumulation studies with any of the species named may be undertaken. Indeed SafePharm are one of the few non-Japanese laboratories to have successfully submitted bioaccumulation studies in support of Japanese Chemical Substance Law Notifications.