Within the project ReProTect - a project within the 6th European Framework Program -  a ring trial, named the “Feasibility Study”, was conducted in which 10 chemicals, whose toxic effects on reproduction are already well-documented from animal experiments, have been tested in a blinded study. The researchers developed a completely new approach. Instead of relying on a single test, they used a test battery of 14 in vitro assays. This approach allowed a robust prediction of adverse effects on fertility and embryonic development of the test chemicals in vivo.

Original article:
B. Schenk et al. (2010): The ReProTect Feasibility Study, a novel comprehensive in vitro approach to detect reproductive toxicants. In: Reproductive Toxicology 30 (2010), S. 200–218. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2010.05.012

Additional information on this topic: Animal experiments for the European Union Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of 18 December 2006 for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), in force on 01 June 2007, startet in Europe in 2010.