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U.S. Department of Energy
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In vivo assessment of vesicant skin injury using a Minolta chroma meter. (Reannouncement with new availability information)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:104165

Current in vivo methods for evaluating the severity of vesicant skin lesions have relied on subjective visual scoring by trained observers. This report describes the development and evaluation of a novel method for the quantification of erythema caused by vesicant exposure to skin using the Minolta CR-200 Chroma Meter. Preliminary validation of this technique using a color chart with 19 different shades of red demonstrated a remarkable ability to distinguish between the different degrees of redness. Five replicate measurements on the 19 color zones yielded coefficients of variation (CV) in the 0.1% range. The experimental data demonstrated that the Chroma Meter`s response was more sensitive than the human eye in differentiating small color differences. Preliminary validation of this technique has been demonstrated using euthymic hairless guinea pigs exposed to neat mustard (HD) vapor. The skin of 11 animals was exposed to HD vapor for either 4 or 8 minutes. Lesions were evaluated visually and with the Chroma Meter at times 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 24 hours post-exposure. A time-response curve was established, and a significant correlation between the Chroma Meter response and the visual Draize scores was found. These studies have demonstrated that the Minolta Chroma Meter can be used to provide a reproducible, objective, and quantitative assessment of vesicant skin injury.

Research Organization:
Army Medical Research Inst. of Chemical Defense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (United States)
OSTI ID:
104165
Report Number(s):
AD-A--243133/6/XAB; USAMRICD-P--89-022
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English