Biological test methods publications
Biological test methods are used in private, government, and academic laboratories across Canada to assess the effects of environmental toxicants on aquatic, sediment, and soil organisms. Some of these standardized biological test methods are required for industries (for example, mining, pulp and paper) to comply with Canadian wastewater regulations. Biological test methods are also used for chemical risk assessment (for example, Chemicals Management Plan) and ecological risk assessment.
Read more about biological test method development
Publications: Biological test methods and guidance documents are amended periodically through the publication of amendment sheets to be used in conjunction with existing methods, or through the publication of subsequent editions. This table provides links to the most recent edition of biological test methods and guidance documents. It lists each report title, publication date with amendments, reference number, and a thumbnail image of the report cover.
Contact Us: If you require a method for which a link is not provided, please email your request to methods@ec.gc.ca.
| Report Type | Report Title | Links | Publication Date | Reference | Report Cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Acute Lethality Test Using Rainbow Trout | HTML Version PDF Version |
2007 & 1996 Amendments, 1990 First edition |
RM/09 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Acute Lethality Test Using Daphnia spp. | HTML Version PDF Version |
1996 Amendments, 1990 First edition |
RM/11 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining Acute Lethality of Effluents to Rainbow Trout | HTML Version PDF Version |
2016 & 2007 Amendments, 2000 Second edition |
RM/13 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining Acute Lethality of Effluents to Daphnia magna | HTML Version PDF Version |
2016 Amendments, 2000 Second edition |
RM/14 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Test of Reproduction and Survival Using the Cladoceran Ceriodaphnia dubia | HTML Version PDF Version |
2007 |
RM/21 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Test of Larval Growth and Survival Using Fathead Minnows | HTML Version PDF Version |
2011 |
RM/22 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Growth Inhibition Test Using a Freshwater Alga | HTML Version PDF Version |
2007 |
RM/25 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Toxicity Tests Using Early Life Stages of Salmonid Fish (Rainbow Trout) | HTML Version PDF Version |
1998 |
RM/28 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Biological Test Method: Test for Measuring the Inhibition of Growth Using the Freshwater Macrophyte, Lemna minor | HTML Version PDF Version |
2007 |
RM/37 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Procedure for pH Stabilization During the Testing of Acute Lethality of Wastewater Effluent to Rainbow Trout | HTML Version PDF Version |
2008 |
RM/50 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater | Procedure for pH Stabilization During the Testing of Acute Lethality of Pulp and Paper Effluent to Rainbow Trout | PDF Version | 2018 |
RM/59 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater, Guidance | Supplementary Background and Guidance for Investigating Acute Lethality of Wastewater Effluent to Rainbow Trout | PDF Version | 2008 | – |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater, Guidance | Supplementary Guidance for Investigating Acute Lethality of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluents due to Ammonia | PDF Version | 2018 | – |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater, Marine | Biological Test Method: Toxicity Test Using Luminescent Bacteria | PDF Version | 1992 | RM/24 |  |
| Aquatic, Freshwater, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Test for Survival, Growth and Reproduction in Sediment and Water Using the Freshwater Amphipod Hyalella azteca | PDF Version | 2017 Third edition |
RM/33 |  |
| Aquatic, Marine | Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining Acute Lethality Using Threespine Stickleback | PDF Version | 2017 Second edition |
RM/10 |  |
| Aquatic, Marine, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Fertilization Assay Using Echinoids (Sea Urchins and Sand Dollars) | HTML Version PDF Version |
2011 Second edition |
RM/27 |  |
| Aquatic, Marine | Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining Acute Lethality Using Acartia tonsa | PDF Version | 2019 | RM/60 |  |
| Freshwater, Marine, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining the Toxicity of Sediment Using Luminescent Bacteria in a Solid-Phase Test | HTML Version PDF Version |
2002 |
RM/42 |  |
| Freshwater, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Test for Survival and Growth in Sediment Using Larvae of Freshwater Midges (Chironomus tentans or Chironomus riparius) | PDF Version | 1997 |
RM/32 |  |
| Guidance | Guidance Document on Control of Toxicity Test Precision Using Reference Toxicants | PDF Version | 1990 |
RM/12 |  |
| Guidance | Guidance Document on Application and Interpretation of Single-species Tests in Environmental Toxicology | PDF Version | 1999 |
RM/34 |  |
| Guidance | Guidance Document for Testing the Pathogenicity and Toxicity of New Microbial Substances to Aquatic and Terrestrial Organisms | PDF Version | 2016 |
RM/44 |  |
| Guidance | Guidance Document on Statistical Methods for Environmental Toxicity Tests | PDF Version Footnote 1 |
2007 Amendments, 2005 First editionFootnote 2 |
RM/46 |  |
| Guidance | Recommended Procedure for the Importation of Test Organisms for Sublethal Toxicity Testing | PDF Version | 1999 |
– |  |
| Guidance, Marine | Revised Procedures for Adjusting Salinity of Effluent Samples for Marine Sublethal Toxicity Testing Conducted under Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) Programs | PDF Version | 2001 |
– |  |
| Guidance, Sediment | Guidance Document on Collection and Preparation of Sediments for Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Testing | PDF Version | 1994 |
RM/29 |  |
| Guidance, Sediment | Guidance Document on Measurement of Toxicity Test Precision Using Control Sediments Spiked with a Reference Toxicant | PDF Version | 1995 |
RM/30 |  |
| Guidance, Soil | Guidance Document on the Sampling and Preparation of Contaminated Soil for Use in Biological Testing | PDF Version | 2012 |
RM/53 |  |
| Marine, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Acute Test for Sediment Toxicity Using Marine or Estuarine Amphipods | PDF Version | 1998 Amendments, 1992 First edition |
RM/26 |  |
| Marine, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Reference Method for Determining Acute Lethality of Sediment to Marine or Estuarine Amphipods | HTML Version PDF Version |
1998 |
RM/35 |  |
| Marine, Sediment | Biological Test Method: Test for Survival and Growth in Sediment Using Spionid Polychaete Worms (Polydora cornuta) | PDF Version | 2001 |
RM/41 |  |
| Marine, Sediment | Reference Method for Measuring the Toxicity of Contaminated Sediment to Embryos and Larvae of Echinoids (Sea Urchins or Sand Dollars) | HTML Version PDF Version |
2014 |
RM/58 |  |
| Soil | Biological Test Method: Tests for Measuring Avoidance Behaviour or Reproduction of Earthworms (Eisenia andrei or Dendrodrilus rubidus) Exposed to Contaminants in Soil | HTML Version PDF Version |
2022 Second edition | RM/43 |  |
| Soil | Biological Test Method: Test for Measuring Emergence and Growth of Terrestrial Plants Exposed to Contaminants in Soil | HTML Version PDF Version |
2007 Amendments, 2005 First editionFootnote 2 |
RM/45 |  |
| Soil | Biological Test Method: Test for Measuring Survival and Reproduction of Springtails Exposed to Contaminants in Soil | HTML Version PDF Version |
2014 |
RM/47 |  |
| Soil | Biological Test Method: Test for Growth in Contaminated Soil Using Terrestrial Plants Native to the Boreal Region | PDF Version | 2013 |
RM/56 |  |
| Soil | Biological Test Method: Test for Measuring Reproduction of Oribatid Mites Exposed to Contaminants in Soil | PDF Version | 2020 |
RM/61 |  |
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