Revised Methods for the Salmonella Mutagenicity Test

The methods for detecting carcinogens and mutagens with the Salmonella mutagenicity test were described previously (Ames et al., 1975b). The present paper is a revision of the methods. Two new tester strains, a frameshift strain (TA97) and a strain carrying an ochre mutation on a multicopy plasmid (TA102), are added to the standard tester set. TA97 replaces TA1537. TA1535 and TA1538 are removed from the recommended set but can be retained at the option of the investigator. TA98 and TA100 are retained. We discuss other special purpose strains and present some minor changes in procedure, principally in the growth, storage, and preservation of the tester strains. Two substitutions are made in diagnostic mutagens to eliminate MNNG and 9-aminoacridine. Some test modifications are discussed.