ABSTRACT
The basic strengths and weaknesses of toxicity testing with the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri, formerly Photobacterium phosphoreum, have been reviewed by Warren-Hicks et al8 and by Ross.9 The Microtox® test10 measures toxicity by tracking decreases in the light output of V. fischeri, a naturally luminescent marine bacterium. The presence of toxic or bioreactive substances that disrupt or inhibit cellular metabolism will ultimately effect the cell’s electron transport system and can be readily quantified by measuring the change in light output of the test cell suspension.
