Rodenticides | Active Ingredients | GLP Laboratories

Rodenticides That Work Where It Counts
The test of a rodenticide is its ability to control rats and mice under a wide range of conditions. Not only must the active ingredient be powerful, but the inert ingredients must appeal to a rodent's sense of taste and desire to gnaw.

Bell Laboratories, Inc. puts its expertise in rodent control to work before its rodenticides ever reach world markets. To maintain maximum control over the quality of its baits, Bell performs all critical processes in-house, including synthesizing the active ingredients and formulating baits.

Bell Laboratories' rodenticides undergo countless laboratory tests, often achieving rodent acceptance rates as high as 70 to 80 percent with 100 percent mortality - well above U.S. government requirements.

Such results ensure that Bell Laboratories' baits produce outstanding levels of rodent control and acceptance in the field - where it counts. Only when Bell's technical active ingredients and baits have successfully measured up to company standards will they carry the Bell Laboratories' label.

Development of Active Ingredients
At Bell Laboratories, the making of a rodenticide begins in the chemistry lab with the development of the active ingredient. Bell Laboratories synthesizes the anticoagulant and acute active ingredients used in its baits - bromadiolone, bromethalin, brodifacoum, and diphacinone.

An exacting process, the development of a pure active ingredient requires extensive research and development on the toxicant, as well as the intermediates which make up that toxicant.

In manufacturing active ingredients, Bell chemists conduct many stringent impurity analyses to determine the range and characteristics of any impurities in the active ingredient. Eliminating impurities which can cause taste aversions or unwanted side effects is paramount to a bait's effectiveness. Using sophisticated laboratory equipment, Bell's chemists can detect impurities in trace amounts and eliminate them.

Once formulated, the active ingredient is subject to a series of tests on its physical and chemical properties, including melting point, corrosive characteristics and pH. Much of the data gathered from the chemical analysis and testing is later used when baits and toxicants are registered with the appropriate regulatory agencies in the United States and abroad.

Synthesis of Active Ingredients
From the process developed in the chemistry lab, the manufacturing of the active ingredient is advanced to Bell's technical manufacturing area. Because the synthesis of active ingredients is so critical to a bait's effectiveness, Bell scientists perform this function in-house.

Bell maintains three chemical reactors used in the meticulous task of synthesizing technical materials. Strict procedures are followed in manufacturing technical materials to avoid creating impurities and to maximize both the yield and purity of the active ingredient.

Biological Testing of Rodenticides & Active Ingredients Complementing its chemistry laboratory, Bell Laboratories supports an in-house biological laboratory for testing the effectiveness of active ingredients, concentrates and baits in controlling rats and mice.

Biological tests are conducted on all active ingredients, as well as whenever a new rodenticide is formulated, an existing formulation is improved or the supplier of raw materials is changed. By conducting biological tests on-site, Bell scientists can respond quickly to results, making the necessary changes to improve formulations.

Biological Efficacy Testing
Bell biologists conduct biological efficacy tests on rats and mice on an ongoing basis to determine the palatability and effectiveness of a toxicant in bait form. In these tests, the active ingredient is mixed with inert ingredients in various formulations and produced in five- to ten-pound batches of bait.

Rats and mice receive dishes of the test bait along with an EPA-approved, non-toxic challenge bait. For a period of one to fifteen days, depending upon the toxicant, researchers note daily bait consumption and rodent mortality.

Consistently, Bell's rodenticides achieve outstanding rodent acceptance and mortality which translates into superior control in the field.

Toxicity Testing
Toxicity testing, also conducted in-house at Bell Laboratories, examines the effects of toxicants on laboratory animals. In these tests, the toxicant is administered to the research animals in pure form and in bait form. Biologists then look at oral and dermal toxicity, eye and dermal irritation, and dermal sensitization.

As a further measure of a toxicant's power, biologists conduct biochemical parameter tests and monitor the coagulation of the rodents' blood to determine the anticoagulation effect of the active ingredient on rodents.

Data from toxicity tests provide valuable health and safety information which is included on the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) enclosed with the rodenticide packaging.

GLP Laboratories
All biological and chemical tests are performed according to Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) in Bell's modern 6,000 sq. ft. chemistry and biological laboratories.

Within the biological lab are separate research rooms for each animal species tested - rats, mice, rabbits and guinea pigs. Each area has its own heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. Temperature and humidity are strictly regulated with ten air exchanges hourly. The facility simulates the animals' natural environment by providing established day and nighttime conditions.

To prevent unnecessary activity in the biological lab which could affect test results, biologists perform non-test functions in separate facilities. Within the biological lab is a separate necropsy lab which lets biologists observe for signs of toxicity in test animals postmortem.

Animal cages are cleaned and sterilized to prevent any unknown substance from affecting test results. Biologists also monitor bacteria count in the cages on a regular basis.