The automated FADU-assay, a potential high-throughput in vitro method for early screening of DNA breakage.

Genotoxicity tests are essential to identify compounds that have a potential to compromise not only the environment but also human and animal health, including compounds that increase the risk of cancer. At present, no single test is capable of detecting all types of genotoxic effects; therefore a battery of in vitro and, if positive, in vivo tests is necessary to determine the genotoxicity of a substance. However, the respective specificities of current assays have been criticised for their high percentage of false positive results. We recently published an automated version of the "Fluorimetric detection of Alkaline DNA Unwinding" (FADU) assay for measuring DNA strand breaks in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells or in cell lines.

Moreno-Villanueva M, Eltze T, Dressler D, Bernhardt J, Hirsch C, Wick P, von Scheven G, Lex K, Bürkle A.

ALTEX. 2011;28(4):295-303. PMID: 22130482