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- $Unique_ID{BRK00478}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{What Does "In Vitro" and "In Vivo" Mean?}
- $Subject{in vivo tests in vitro Special Procedures procedure lab Tests
- artificial environment test tube laboratory investigation experiments
- discovery breakthrough}
- $Volume{P-0}
- $Log{}
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- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- What Does "In Vitro" and "In Vivo" Mean?
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- QUESTION: I have been reading more and more medical material, to better
- understand my own health status. I keep coming across reports of a medicine's
- effectiveness "in Vitro" and "in Vivo". I think I understand what it means,
- but will you explain this concept?
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- ANSWER: I am sure you have already consulted your medical dictionary (and
- I'll bet you have one), but for everyone's benefit, a few definitions first.
- Both terms are derived from the Latin, "vitro" referring to glass, and "vivo"
- to life. When a medication is effective in vitro it means it has been shown
- to have an action in an artificial or "glass" environment, a test tube being
- the example, representing laboratory investigation. Usually this occurs in
- the first stages of developing a new medication, when testing reveals that a
- possible benefit can be achieved. These laboratory experiments give
- scientists the first lead towards a new discovery or breakthrough. Yet that's
- a long way from providing a usable ingredient for medication, for there are
- still safety tests needed to prove that there are no harmful effects
- associated with the new chemical or agent. This experimentation must first be
- conducted in animals, and then human volunteers, in living subjects or "in
- vivo". When safety has been demonstrated, testing in actual patients may then
- be started, and the long process of proving that the good or beneficial
- outcomes seen in the first stages of investigation actually occur in real,
- live patients. Many times the hopes influenced by the initial results can not
- be demonstrated in actual situations, and the research must be abandoned.
- Developing safe and effective medicines is a long and costly process which
- explains, in part, why medications are sometimes so expensive.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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