Mission Statement:

XDS exists to develop and advance commercial acceptance of biological methods that will facilitate assessment of environmental and human health risks.

History

Xenobiotic Detection Systems (XDS) was started in 1995 by Drs. George C. Clark and Michael S. Denison. In 1997 XDS received major Research and Development funding from the National Institutes of Health for their dioxin analysis bioassay and their endocrine disruptor assay as well.

In 1998 XDS was awarded a U.S. patent (5,854,010) for its proprietary XDS-CALUX® (Chemically-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression cell bioassay system) assay for dioxin-like chemicals.

In 2004 XDS was awarded a U.S. patent (6,720,431 B2) for their novel method of separation of dioxins/furans and dioxin-like PCB’s for XDS-CALUX® analysis.

In July 2006, the LUMI-CELL® ER bioassay system completed ICCVAM’s protocol standardization study, also know as the U.S. pre-validation study.

In March of 2007 the LUMI-CELL® ER bioassay system started the international validation study with ICCVAM, ECVAM, and JaCVAM.

In 2007, the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste (OSW) Organic Methods Workgroup formally reviewed and approved the XDS-CALUX® technology (EPA Method #4435) for inclusion into Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, also known as SW-846.

Licensing and Laboratory Services

Xenobiotic Detection Systems offers a full range of diagnostic services. The XDS-CALUX® Assay is ideal for use as a low cost research tool to determine biological activity of a specific substance. It can also be used as a screening assay to measure contamination levels at industrial sites. Once contamination has been determined using the XDS-CALUX® assay, the identity of contaminants can be determined using techniques like GC-MS. The XDS-CALUX® assay saves customers money by decreasing the number of GC-MS samples needed, which are higher in cost than XDS-CALUX®. We can test your samples in our laboratory and provide you full reports on the results. Reports are sent within 21 days of sample arrival. If you need faster service, we offer special faster turn-around testing with results within 14 days, 7 days, and 5 days. These special handling cases involve higher premiums. Please ask us about any special needs you may have. We offer discounts for multiple samples and for contracted services. These are based upon the volume of testing. Please inquire about our discount programs in situations requiring frequent large numbers of samples we have arranged licensing agreements with clients to use our patented processes. Xenobiotic can also work with you to set up a laboratory with all necessary equipment and to train your staff to use our patented methods.

DIOXINS:

Dioxins are one of the most toxic man-made compounds known and are persistent contaminants in the environment. The term dioxins generally refer to a family of related chemical compounds that include the chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and chlorinated dibenzofurans. Collectively, these groups of compounds belong to a class of compounds called polychlorinated diaromatic hydrocarbons (PCDH). PCDH have been extensively studied and are known to accumulate in animals causing toxic effects. Birth defects, immunotoxicity, tumor production, changes in metabolism and even death have all been observed as a result of exposure to PCDH.

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS:

Endocrine disrupting chemicals affect normal hormone responses in both humans and wildlife. Concern about these chemicals has increased worldwide as studies have suggested that these chemicals may be associated with global increases in testicular cancer, regional declines in sperm counts, altered sex ratios in wildlife populations, increases in the incidence of breast cancer and endometriosis, and accelerated puberty in females.