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Drug Quality Control
and Toxicology Laboratory Department
Physicochemical Div
Toxicology Div
Microbiology Div
Pesticide Div
Toxicology Laboratory Division
Toxicology laboratory is the only of its
kind in Ethiopia intimately involved in the analytical and
experimental toxicity testing services. It is involved in
the screening and identification of causes of poisoning
(intentional and unintentional), monitoring occupational
exposure to hazardous chemicals and unknown substances
evaluation for toxicity on laboratory animals.
The laboratory uses proven high-tech
laboratory equipments like Gas chromatography, High Pressure
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), UV/Visible spectrophotometer,
Thin-Layer Chromatography and a wide variety of other
essential analytical techniques.
Activities:
The laboratory offers a range
of toxicological testing services including analytical and
experimental services in food, water, effluent, industrial
products, general chemicals, occupational and clinical.
It operates through
four units namely:
1.
Bio-toxicity Test
Unit
2.
Analytical Toxicology Unit
3.
General Toxicology Info & Documentation Unit
3.
Laboratory Animals Breeding Unit
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Acute
toxicity test
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Sub-acute
toxicity test
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Skin
irritation and sensitization test
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Eye
irritation test
Clinical
toxicology tests (emergency lab diagnosis of poisons)
Therapeutic
drug monitoring (TDM)
Screening
for drugs and substance abuse
Forensic
toxicological analysis
Heavy
metal analysis and trace elements monitoring
Drug
residue analysis (drugs and chemicals in animal body)
Occupational
and environmental toxicity monitoring
(exposure to hazardous chemicals & pollutant analysis)
Toxicovigilance
activities
Toxicology
information (personal safety and poison info services)
Handling
and reporting of laboratory results
Breeding
of lab animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, rats & mice)
Current
Services
The laboratory offers the following services:
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Acute
toxicity testing
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Screening
of unknown poison
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Cholinesterase
inhibition test (for workers exposed to OP
and CB pesticides)
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Skin
irritation and sensitization tests (for cosmetics and
dermatological preparations)
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Eye
irritation test (for ophthalmic preparations)
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Therapeutic
Drug Monitoring (TDM) for a wide range of
substances including antiepileptics, antidepressants,
antiarrhythmics, antibiotics, dioxins, theophlylline and
lithium
The Toxicology
Laboratory Division has the potential to:
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Provide
training services in the areas of analytical and
experimental toxicology
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Engage in research
activities in collaboration with other research
institutions and Universities
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Become an
information center for any information pertaining to
the science of toxicology
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Bio-equivalence
studies
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Chronic toxicity
and carcinogenicity studies
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Safety evaluation
of traditional medicines
Staff
The laboratory currently has a total of seven professionals
and technical staff composed of 1 Pharmacist, 1
Veterinarian, 1 Chemist, and 2 Veterinary technicians.
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