Chronic Studies (Life-cycle)

Springborn Smithers Laboratories is the world's leading supplier of chronic life-cycle testing for aquatic organisms. These studies are routinely conducted for the agricultural chemical, specialty chemical, chemical and pharmaceutical industries for use in world-wide product registration. We have been conducting fish full life-cycle studies almost since our inception in 1969, longer than any other CRO in the world. In addition, we have conducted more fish full life-cycle studies than any other CRO. Major fish species include fathead and sheepshead minnow; however the list of species we routinely culture and test is extensive. Fish full life-cycle studies begin with fertilized embryos, less than 24 hours old and continue for up to 260 days. There are typically 23 survival, growth and reproductive endpoints for the F0 and F1 generations, and we have evaluated endocrinology and histology related endpoints as well.

Aquatic invertebrate life-cycle testing began at Springborn Smithers in 1969 using solely Daphnia magna. Since then, other Cladocerans, mysids and several sediment species have been added to the list of aquatic invertebrates. These studies are initiated with less than 24 hour old organisms and typically have one reproductive endpoint and several growth endpoints.